Japan Observes Tiny Tsunami Following 6.7 Magnitude Quake
Japan reported on Sunday evening, November 9, that tiny tsunami waves struck its northern Pacific coast after an offshore earthquake measuring 6.7 in magnitude.
Details of the Tsunami and Earthquake
- The first tsunami wave hit Miyako, Iwate, at 5:37 pm (4:37 pm Singapore time), but the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) stated it was too small to measure.
- Two minutes later, a 10 cm wave reached Ofunato, according to JMA.
- The earthquake occurred around 5:03 pm off the coast of Iwate, prompting a tsunami advisory warning waves up to 1 meter high.
- The US Geological Survey reported the quake’s magnitude as 6.8.
"A tsunami advisory has been issued" for the Iwate coast, the JMA said in a bulletin, warning that waves could arrive at any moment.
Aftershocks ranging from magnitudes 5.3 to 6.3 followed the initial quake, as reported by JMA.
Regional Context and Impact
Live Japanese television feeds showed calm seas despite the advisory. Earlier that morning, the area experienced six offshore earthquakes between magnitudes 4.8 and 5.8 that were barely felt on land and did not trigger tsunami warnings.
This region still bears the trauma from a massive 9.0-magnitude undersea earthquake in 2011 that caused a devastating tsunami, resulting in approximately 18,500 deaths or missing persons.
Summary: Japan experienced a minor tsunami after a 6.7 magnitude offshore quake near Iwate, prompting advisories but causing no significant damage or large waves.