Tiny tsunami hits Japan after 6.9 quake off Iwate coast
Tiny tsunami hits Japan after 6.9 quake off Iwate coast
An offshore 6.9-magnitude earthquake near Iwate triggered a brief tsunami advisory as tiny waves reached Miyako, Kuji, and Ofunato before the alert was lifted; aftershocks continue.
An offshore 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck waters off Iwate Prefecture, Japan, on Sunday, prompting a brief tsunami advisory. The Japan Meteorological Agency later revised the quake's magnitude from 6.7 to 6.9, while the U.S. Geological Survey logged it at 6.8. The first tsunami hit Miyako at 5:37 p.m. but was so small the agency could not measure its size. Later, ports in Kuji and Ofunato reported waves as high as about 20 cm, with smaller surges recorded at other Iwate ports. The advisory was lifted shortly after 8 p.m., but the area is expected to experience aftershocks as large as 6.3 in the hours and days ahead.
Officials cautioned that the region has seen a sequence of seismic activity and that larger earthquakes could occur in the coming days. Several aftershocks, ranging from 4.6 to 6.3 magnitudes, followed the offshore quake. There were no immediate reports of injuries, but coastal hazards remain a concern for residents and operators at ports and fishing communities.
Japan sits on the volatile Pacific Ring of Fire, where four major tectonic plates converge. The country experiences about 1,500 earthquakes annually. The memory of the devastating 2011 9.0-magnitude quake, which triggered a tsunami and led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster, remains a reference point for local officials and residents.
Authorities urged people to stay away from shorelines until further notice and to follow official updates. The incident underscores Japan's ongoing risk from offshore earthquakes and the importance of rapid warnings in protecting coastal communities.
Cover image source: Powerful quake strikes off coast of Japan, tsunami advisory issued 🔗
