Tsunami Alert Issued in Japan: Residents Urged to Evacuate Immediately
A strong earthquake struck off northeastern Japan on April 20. The Japan Meteorological Agency first reported magnitude 7.4, then revised it to 7.5.
Warnings and immediate action
The JMA issued tsunami alerts for sections of the Pacific coast. Authorities warned of waves up to three meters and residents were urged to evacuate immediately.
- Iwate Prefecture (coast)
- Aomori Prefecture (Pacific coast)
- Hokkaido (central Pacific coast)
Advisories for other coastal zones
Tsunami advisories predicted waves around one meter for additional nearby shores. Local officials asked people to stay away from the coast and follow safety instructions.
- Miyagi Prefecture
- Hokkaido (eastern Pacific coast)
- Hokkaido (western Pacific coast)
- Fukushima Prefecture
- Aomori Prefecture (Sea of Japan coast)
Observed effects
Miyako Port in Iwate recorded a tsunami arrival. The observed wave height was about 40 centimeters.
Infrastructure and safety checks
Tokyo Electric Power Company is checking the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear plants for any anomalies. The Tohoku Shinkansen was suspended after the quake.
Regional assessment
China’s national warning center posted that preliminary seismic data indicate only local tsunami near the source. They said the event should not affect China’s coastline.
This summary compiles reports from the Japan Meteorological Agency and CCTV. Filmogaz.com prepared the article for distribution.
