Japan issues megaquake alert following a powerful 7.7-magnitude

TOKYO, April 21 — At least six people were injured on Tuesday, a day after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan, though no major damage has been reported. The tremor also triggered tsunami waves of up to 80 centimetres.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of a heightened risk of a potential megaquake — defined as magnitude 8.0 or higher — following Monday’s strong quake in the Pacific off Iwate prefecture.

The impact was felt far beyond the epicentre, with tall buildings in Tokyo swaying despite being hundreds of kilometres away.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, six people were injured as of 8am, including two in serious condition. Authorities reported no fires or damage to critical infrastructure.

A tsunami warning for waves of up to three metres was initially issued but later lifted after an 80-centimetre wave reached a port in Kuji, along with smaller waves in other parts of northern Japan.

The JMA noted that the likelihood of another major quake is currently higher than usual.

Local authorities advised over 182,000 residents in affected areas to evacuate as a precaution, though the orders were not mandatory.

Japan lies along the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where several tectonic plates meet, making it prone to frequent earthquakes. The country experiences around 1,500 tremors annually — about 18 per cent of the global total — though most are minor.

Memories remain of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, a 9.0-magnitude quake that triggered a devastating tsunami, leaving about 18,500 people dead or missing and causing a nuclear crisis at Fukushima. — AFP