A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday (Japanese time) evening, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a tsunami advisory for Iwate Prefecture on Honshu’s northeast coast.
The quake, which occurred at approximately 5.03pm local time (JST) at a shallow depth of about 10 km, registered an intensity of 4 on Japan’s shindo seismic scale in areas including Morioka and Yahaba in Iwate, as well as Wakuya in neighbouring Miyagi Prefecture.
Locals evacuated from coastal areas
The JMA warned of potential tsunami waves up to 1 metre high along Iwate’s coastline, urging residents to immediately evacuate coastal areas, stay away from beaches, waterways, and the ocean, and move to higher ground. Small tsunami surge waves were soon observed, including 20 cm at Kuji Port and Ofunato Port in Iwate, as well as offshore detections 70 km from the coast. Public broadcaster NHK reported no abnormalities at nearby nuclear facilities, such as the Onagawa plant operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co.
No major damage or injuries have been reported so far, though Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train services were temporarily suspended between Sendai and Shin-Aomori due to a brief power outage. The event follows a series of smaller foreshocks in the region earlier in the day.
The seismically active area, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, remains sensitive following the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with the advisory still in effect as of late Sunday evening.
Since the 2011 Tōhoku disaster, Japan has faced two notable tsunamis. On November 22, 2016, a magnitude 7.4 quake off Fukushima triggered waves up to 1.4 m at Sendai, the first major warning since 2011, with no deaths but minor injuries. The most destructive came on January 1, 2024, when the magnitude 7.5 Noto Peninsula quake generated run-up heights over 11 m, inundating 370 hectares and causing two drowning deaths amid 240+ total fatalities. No other post-2011 tsunami has exceeded 5 m or caused widespread loss of life, thanks to upgraded seawalls, rapid warnings, and public drills.
