On Sunday, Japan issued a tsunami advisory following a 6.7-magnitude earthquake that occurred offshore in the northern Pacific region.
The earthquake hit at approximately 5:03 pm (0803 GMT) near Iwate, leading to a warning of a potential tsunami reaching up to one meter (three feet) in height, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The US Geological Survey recorded the earthquake’s magnitude as 6.8.
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The JMA announced in a bulletin, “A tsunami advisory has been issued” for the Iwate coast, cautioning that waves could arrive at any moment.
National broadcaster NHK reported the observation of offshore tsunami waves and advised local residents to avoid coastal areas.
Japanese television broadcasts showed calm seas in live footage.
The area still remembers the devastating 9.0-magnitude undersea earthquake in 2011, which caused a tsunami, resulting in about 18,500 deaths or missing persons.
This tsunami also led to the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant, marking Japan’s worst post-war disaster and the most severe nuclear accident worldwide since Chernobyl.
Japan is located on four major tectonic plates along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the most seismically active countries globally.
The archipelago, with a population of around 125 million, experiences roughly 1,500 earthquakes annually.
Most are minor, but their impact varies depending on their location and depth beneath the Earth’s surface.
