A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake rattled northeastern Japan on Friday, prompting evacuations and a brief tsunami advisory before warnings were lifted.
Tokyo, Japan — A powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck northeastern Japan on Friday, triggering tsunami advisories and prompting evacuation notices for coastal residents before warnings were later lifted, officials said.
The quake occurred off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture on Friday morning, shaking areas still on alert after a stronger 7.5-magnitude earthquake earlier in the week.
Tsunami Advisory and Evacuations
Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially issued a tsunami advisory for parts of the Pacific coastline, warning that waves of up to 1 metre could hit coastal areas. Residents in low-lying towns and cities were advised to evacuate to higher ground. Minor tsunami waves were later recorded, but authorities said there were no reports of significant damage.
The advisory was lifted only a few hours later after monitoring showed only small waves along shores in Aomori and nearby Hokkaido prefectures.
Aftershocks and Regional Seismic Activity
Several smaller tremors followed the mainshock, heightening concern among residents and officials about ongoing seismic activity. Japan, located in the seismically active Ring of Fire, frequently experiences earthquakes, and authorities have warned communities to stay vigilant.
This latest tremor follows a major 7.5-magnitude earthquake earlier this week that injured dozens of people and led to widespread evacuations along Japan’s northeastern coast.
Officials continue to urge caution, reminding residents to follow safety instructions and be prepared for possible aftershocks in the coming days.
