Magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes off Japan, triggers tsunami alert | Earthquakes News

BREAKINGBREAKING,

Japan’s Meteorological Agency says a tsunami as high as three metres (10 feet) could hit country’s northeastern coast.

A powerful earthquake has struck off Japan’s northeastern coast, triggering a tsunami alert and suspension of transport services.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the quake hit at around 14:15 GMT on Monday, initially measuring it at magnitude 7.2.

It said the epicentre was about 80km (50 miles) off the coast of Aomori prefecture at a depth of 50km (31 miles), and warned that a tsunami as high as three metres (10 feet) could hit parts of the northeastern coastline, including Aomori, Hokkaido, Iwate Miyagi and Fukushima.

It is urging people in affected areas to evacuate to higher ground. The US Geological Survey reported the same quake as a magnitude 7.6 event off the city of Misawa.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said, “hazardous tsunami waves from Hokkaido earthquake are possible within 1,000km (620 miles) of the epicentre along the coasts of Japan and Russia”.

East Japan Railway said it had suspended some train services in the region. Public broadcaster NHK reported that nuclear power plants in the affected areas were carrying out safety checks, with no immediate signs of problems.

There were no initial reports of injuries or damage.

Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, located in the seismically active “Ring of Fire”.

It accounts for about 20 percent of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater and was hit by a devastating 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami in March 2011.