TOKYO: A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 struck offshore northern Japan on Monday night, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.
The epicenter was located off Aomori Prefecture at a depth of 50 kilometers. The quake registered an upper 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, which has a maximum of 7.
The JMA warned that a tsunami as high as three meters (10 feet) could hit the northeastern coast. The warning covers Pacific coastal areas of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures.
An early earthquake alert was issued ahead of the quake. Authorities urged residents in affected areas to move to higher ground and take immediate precautions.
The situation remains fluid, and updates are expected as emergency teams assess damage and monitor tsunami activity.
It is a developing story………..
