Tsunami fears ease in Japan after massive 8.3 quake
AFP: Tsunami fears eased in Japan on Saturday after a massive
8.3-magnitude Pacific Ocean earthquake as only minor waves hit the
country's north and the United States cancelled its tidal wave alert.
The earthquake east of the Kuril Islands at 0424 GMT rattled northern
Japan, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning and urge coastal
residents to head to higher ground.
But more than three hours later, no major effects had been reported.
Tiny waves just 10 centimetres (3.9 inches) high lapped against
Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, while the United States cancelled
its warning for Japan, Russia, and a string of Pacific islands.
"For all areas the tsunami warning and tsunami watch are cancelled,"
the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement.
However, waves of 50 centimetres (1.6 feet) were expected on the
Pacific coast of Wakayama prefecture, central Japan, at around 4:00 pm
(0700 GMT). "We ask that those who are under tsunami warnings to take
this seriously and use caution. We also ask that those under advisories
to also be careful," said a Japanese meteorological agency official.
Japan last was hit by tsunami on November 15 after a 7.9-magnitude
quake that happened in the same area as the latest quake, but the waves
caused little damage.
The November quake triggered tsunami alerts stretching from Indonesia
to California, with Japan keeping its warning for hours after the quake.
In November, the biggest of the first series of waves was as high as
40 centimetres, followed by larger waves up to 80 centimetres high
hitting small islands off central Japan.
"The latest quake happened at an area that we frequently observe
earthquakes," a meteorological agency official said.
"It is not clear whether the previous quake and the latest quake are
related, but similar things can happen," he said.
Coastal villages and municipalities under tsunami warnings issued
evacuation warnings and advisories to thousands of households.
In Tokyo, the government set up a special communication office to
collect information about the possible tsunami.
NHK broadcast live footage from various ports in Hokkaido, Japan's
northernmost island, and other coastal areas, but few changes were seen.
The tidal level fell by 10 centimetres (3.9 inches) at Hokkaido's
Nemuro city at 2:38 pm (0538 GMT) due to pre-tsunami backwash, followed
by a 10-centimetre tsunami at 3:04 pm, the agency said.
A slight dropping of the tide levels, also by 10 centimeters, was
also seen at nearby Kushiro and Tokachi areas in Hokkaido around 3:00 pm
in a sign of pre-tsunami backwash.
Japan is home to 20 percent of the world's major earthquakes,
frequently jolting its cities.
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