Japan hit by 6.7 quake; tsunami warning off Kuji
Japan hit by 6.7 quake; tsunami warning off Kuji
A 6.7-magnitude offshore quake near Kuji prompts a tsunami warning as authorities monitor aftershocks and possible damage.
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan on Friday, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami warning for the northern Pacific coastline. The United States Geological Survey also measured the quake at 6.7 and placed the epicenter about 130 kilometres off the city of Kuji in Iwate Prefecture on Honshu. It was an offshore tremor that reminded residents of the region’s vulnerability to powerful seismic activity, even as the shaking was reported as less intense than the larger event that rattled the area earlier in the week.
The JMA’s warning suggested tsunami waves could reach up to one metre along parts of the northern Pacific coastline, while earlier action from NHK described the shaking as significant in some towns and noted that the area had already felt the aftershocks from the prior 7.5-magnitude quake. The earlier tremor caused damage in places, with items toppled from shelves and roads disrupted, underscoring the persistent risk in a region shaped by the complex interaction of the Pacific and Philippine Sea tectonic plates.
Officials from the Nuclear Regulation Authority said there were no immediate signs of abnormalities at the region’s nuclear facilities in the wake of Friday’s quake. The sequence of events has already prompted a rare advisory from the JMA after the previous quake, warning that another quake of similar size could occur within the following week. The Sanriku area and the northern part of Honshu remain under close surveillance as authorities stress readiness for possible aftershocks and coastal impacts, including the potential for further tsunami activity.
The region carries the heavy memory of the 2011 disaster, when a 9.0-magnitude megathrust quake triggered a devastating tsunami. As Friday’s tremor rattled nerves, local authorities pledged continued monitoring and urged residents to heed official updates, stay away from coastal zones, and follow evacuation guidance if issued. While no casualties were confirmed immediately, the situation remained dynamic, with updates expected as aftershocks continue to unfold.
Cover image source: Japan issues tsunami warning after 6.7-magnitude earthquake 🔗
