By Blessing Nweke
Officials in Japan have warned of an increased risk of a “huge” earthquake within the next week after a powerful 7.7-magnitude tremor struck off the country’s north-east coast, triggering evacuations and tsunami alerts.
The quake hit waters off Iwate Prefecture, about 530km north of Tokyo, at a depth of 10km. Authorities initially warned of tsunami waves of up to 3m, prompting more than 170,000 residents across several prefectures to flee coastal and riverside areas for higher ground. The largest waves recorded reached 80cm before warnings were gradually lifted later on Monday.
Despite the easing of immediate خطر, the Japan Meteorological Agency cautioned that further quakes “causing even stronger shaking” could occur in the coming days. Officials said the likelihood of a magnitude 8.0 or higher earthquake is now “relatively higher than during normal times.”
Tremors were felt as far as Tokyo, while tsunami alerts remained in parts of Hokkaido hours after the quake struck. Local authorities used loudspeakers to urge residents to remain vigilant, and some offices allowed workers to leave early.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, though around 100 homes briefly lost power and some bullet train services were disrupted before resuming later in the evening.
The warning has revived painful memories of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 18,000 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan experiences around 1,500 earthquakes each year, making preparedness a constant priority for authorities and residents alike.
Original article
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