A strong earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, on Sunday evening, prompting a tsunami advisory and sparking concern across northern Honshu. The tremor hit at 5:03 p.m. local time, registering a magnitude of 6.8 according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Just minutes later, small tsunami waves were observed along the coast.
At 5:37 p.m., the first wave reached Miyako, though its height was too small to measure. Two minutes later, a 10-centimeter wave was recorded at Ofunato, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Authorities warned that waves could reach up to 1 meter high, urging residents to stay away from coastal areas.
The quake was followed by several aftershocks ranging from magnitude 5.3 to 6.3, rattling the region and keeping residents on edge. Despite the advisory, live broadcasts from state television showed the sea appearing calm, with no immediate signs of larger waves.
On Sunday morning, the same region experienced at least six additional earthquakes, measuring between 4.8 and 5.8, though these were less intense and did not trigger tsunami warnings.
Japan, located on the volatile Ring of Fire, is one of the most seismically active nations in the world. The Iwate coastline has long been vulnerable to quakes and tsunamis, with memories of the 2011 Tohoku disaster still fresh in the public consciousness.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, stressing that tsunami waves can arrive in multiple surges and sometimes increase in size hours after the initial quake. Residents have been advised to remain vigilant until the advisory is lifted.
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