"A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake has shaken Japan's north-east region, prompting tsunami warnings and orders for residents to evacuate. A tsunami as high as 3 metres (10ft) could hit the country's north-eastern coast after the earthquake occurred offshore at 11.15pm local time (1415 GMT), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. Tsunami warnings were issued for the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, and a tsunami of 40cm had been observed at Aomori's Mutsu-Ogawara and Hokkaido's Urakawa ports before midnight, JMA said."
"The epicentre of the quake was 50 miles (80km) off the coast of Aomori prefecture, at a depth of 30 miles, the agency added. Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, with a tremor occurring at least every five minutes. East Japan Railway suspended some train services in the area, which was also hit by the massive 9.0-magnitude quake in March 2011."
"Located in the Ring of Fire arc of volcanoes and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin, Japan accounts for about 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater."
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck offshore north-east Japan at 11.15pm local time (1415 GMT), with an epicentre about 50 miles (80km) off Aomori prefecture at a depth of 30 miles. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate and cautioned that a tsunami as high as 3 metres (10ft) could hit the north-eastern coast. A 40cm tsunami was observed at Mutsu-Ogawara and Urakawa ports before midnight. Evacuation orders were given and East Japan Railway suspended some services in the affected area. Japan sits in the Ring of Fire and accounts for about 20% of global magnitude 6.0+ earthquakes.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]