6.9 earthquake hit the coast of Japan

A magnitude 4 earthquake on the Shindo scale struck northeastern Japan, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook northern Japan on Sunday evening, followed by several smaller tremors. Initially, a tsunami was announced, but it was later cancelled after only minor waves, around 20cm high, were observed in some coastal areas.

The quake’s epicenter was located off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, about 10km beneath the sea surface, occurring around 5 p.m. local time. So far, there have been no reports of injuries, major damage, or irregularities at nearby nuclear power plants.

Authorities initially warned of a possible tsunami of up to one meter along the northern coastline, keeping the advisory active for about an hour after the first quake. Train services, including bullet trains operated by JR East, experienced temporary delays as the Tohoku Shinkansen briefly lost power between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations. Local media also reported temporary power outages in some areas. Officials confirmed that the Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture was operating normally with no reported issues.

At a Sunday evening press conference, a JMA spokesperson cautioned that additional earthquakes of similar or greater strength could occur in the coming days while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on X, urging residents to stay away from the coast and remain vigilant about possible aftershocks and tsunami waves. She reminded the public that tsunami waves can continue for hours after an initial quake and may increase in size with each surge. Aftershocks continued to be felt in parts of Iwate Prefecture following the initial tremor.