Tsunami Threat Passes After Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Off Iwate
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture on Sunday evening at 5:03 p.m., registering a 4 on Japan's seismic intensity scale. The quake triggered tsunami waves that reached 20 centimeters in some locations, prompting evacuation orders in certain municipalities.
A tsunami advisory was issued for Iwate Prefecture, warning of waves potentially up to 1 meter, but it was lifted shortly after 8 p.m.
Details of the Earthquake and Tsunami
- The earthquake was initially reported as magnitude 6.7 before being revised to 6.9 by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
- A 20 cm tsunami wave was observed in Ofunato Port at 6:25 p.m. and in Kuji Port at 5:52 p.m.
- The quake measured shindo 4 in Morioka city, Yahaba town (Iwate), and Wakuya town in Miyagi Prefecture.
- By 8:30 p.m., eleven additional quakes occurred, including one of magnitude 6.3 with a shindo 3 rating.
Impact and Response
There were no initial reports of injuries or damage following the quake. East Japan Railway briefly lost power on the Tohoku Shinkansen line, suspending operations between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations. Tohoku Electric Power reported no issues at the Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture.
“No abnormalities were reported at the Onagawa nuclear power plant following the quake.”
Summary: A magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Iwate caused small tsunamis and brief transport disruptions, but no injuries or significant damage were reported.