A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan: a tsunami warning has been issued
Late in the evening on December 8, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck northeastern Japan. The underground tremors were recorded at 11:15 p.m. local time at a depth of about 50 km off the coast of Aomori Prefecture. A seismic intensity of upper level 6 was recorded in the city of Hachinohe. The tremors were even felt in central Tokyo. This was reported by The Public with reference to Watchers.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for the coastal areas of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate. The waves are expected to reach three meters in height in some places. Residents are urged to immediately move to higher ground. The first waves, about 40 cm high, were observed in the port of Mutsu Ogawara.
According to estimates by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, dangerous waves are possible within a radius of up to a thousand kilometers — on the coasts of Japan and Russia. The time of arrival may vary, and the first wave is not always the largest.
USGS estimates indicate that more than 300,000 people felt strong tremors, with several million more experiencing moderate to light tremors. No casualties are expected, but local damage is possible. The Japanese government has already set up a crisis headquarters at the Prime Minister's Office.
Seismologists warn of the risks of secondary phenomena — landslides, fires, and liquefaction.
