Japan declares tsunami warning after powerful earthquake

A three-meter tsunami warning has been issued in Japan after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency and the US Geological Survey, UNN reports with reference to CNN.

Details

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a three-meter tsunami warning for Iwate Prefecture and parts of Hokkaido and Aomori. For other areas of northeastern Japan, it issued a warning, estimating a tsunami of up to one meter.

The US Tsunami Warning System reported that the magnitude of the earthquake off the east coast of Honshu, Japan, was 7.4. A tsunami threat was declared at 8:52 UTC. Japan's national agency revised the earthquake's magnitude to 7.5, although it is unclear why there is a discrepancy in the figures.

A CNN producer on the ground in Tokyo reported feeling the building they were in shake for about seven minutes.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents of affected areas to evacuate immediately and said the government had established an emergency task force.

"Residents in areas where a tsunami warning has been issued should evacuate immediately to higher ground or safer places, such as evacuation buildings," Takaichi told reporters on Monday, according to national broadcaster NHK.

Authorities are doing "everything possible to assess the damage, take emergency response measures. (...) We are currently still confirming the extent of human and material damage, but we will soon receive detailed reports and continue disaster response measures," Takaichi said.

The operator of the bullet train running between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori station reported that train service was suspended due to a power outage caused by the earthquake, NHK reported.

Two powerful earthquakes hit Japan18.04.26, 16:55 • 4852 views