Japanese officials have warned that a second tsunami may be approaching the country’s northeast coast following a powerful earthquake, the magnitude of which has been revised upward to 7.7.
The Japan Meteorological Agency originally reported the quake as a 7.5 magnitude event but later updated the figure, noting the depth of the tremor was 19km rather than the 10km initially estimated. According to the BBC, tsunami warnings remain in place for the Iwate and Hokkaido prefectures.
Evacuation orders are in effect, with the government urging residents to seek higher ground immediately. The warning carries significant weight in Japan, following the memory of the devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
An initial 40cm wave reached Miyako port in Iwate prefecture, but experts have forecast waves as tall as three metres for the region. Footage from Hokkaido has already shown waves swelling significantly near the shoreline.
The earthquake has caused widespread disruption to infrastructure. Several bullet train services have been suspended across the affected areas. However, nuclear plants in the region appear to be operating normally at this stage, with no immediate reports of damage to the facilities.
(Information taken from BBC.)