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Japan earthquake hits off Fukushima coast, triggering tsunami warning

An earthquake has struck off the Japanese island of Honshu, triggering tsunami warnings for the coastline near the town of Fukushima.

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Tsunami warning downgraded in Japan's northeast

Residents are urged remain alert after an earthquake initially reported as 7.3 magnitude struck, sparking 1.4 metre-high waves and tsunami warnings which have since been downgraded.

Tsunami warnings downgraded

Tsunami warnings for Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures have been lifted, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

The warnings were downgraded several minutes ago, from "warning" level to the lower "advisory" level.

"Due to the risk of ongoing strong currents, do not enter the sea or approach coastal regions until the advisory is lifted," the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

"Slight sea-level changes may be observed in coastal regions, but no tsunami damage is expected."

 

 

Meanwhile in New Zealand ...

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 has struck central New Zealand, little more than a week after a powerful tremor centred in the upper South Island rocked the country and killed two people.

Tuesday's quake was centred off the coast of the North Island, 138 kilometres from Palmerston North, at a depth of 37 kilometres.

Also on Tuesday, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Fukushima in northern Japan and generated a 1.4 metre tsunami around Sendai.

AAP

Nissan suspends work in Fukushima

Japanese automobile company Nissan said it would suspend work at its engine factory in Fukushima at least until a tsunami warning was lifted after a powerful earthquake rocked northern Japan.

A spokesman said there were no injuries or damage at the plant, which was badly damaged in an earthquake and tsunami disaster in March 2011.

Japan earthquake: what we know

This is the latest information we have about the earthquake and tsunami warning in Japan: 

  • Tsunami warnings remain in place for Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. Residents in coastal areas there have been told to move to higher ground.
  • The magnitude 7.4-quake struck off the Fukushima coast at 5.59am on Tuesday, local time (7.59am AEDT).
  • The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of a tsunami up to three metres.
  • The cooling system for spent fuel was briefly halted at a nuclear plant, but was later restarted. 
  •  A wave of 1.4 metres hit the Sendai port in Miyagi Prefecture and a 90-centimetre tsunami wave hit Soma port in Fukushima Prefecture. 
  • The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said it believed the tsunami threat from the earthquake had largely passed.

You can read our full story here.

Residents flee coastal areas

Long lines of cars have formed as coastal residents follow government orders to flee to higher ground after a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck off the coast of Fukushima.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for waves of up to three metres in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, and a tsunami advisory for much of the rest of north-east Japan's Pacific coast.

A tsunami of up to 1.4 metres were recorded about two hours after the 5.59am earthquake.

Fukushima prefecture is home to the nuclear power plant that was destroyed by a huge tsunami following an offshore earthquake in 2011.

The operator of the plant said there were no abnormalities observed at the plant, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said.

The earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo, 240 kilometres away.

NHK has urged people to evacuate immediately, reminding them of the devastating 2011 quake that killed about 18,000 people.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Warning Centre said it believed the threat of a tsunami had "largely passed", but Japanese authorities had not lifted their evacuation orders.

AAP

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Tsunami threat has 'largely passed'

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has just released a statement saying that, based on all available data, "the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now largely passed".

However Japanese authorities are still telling people in coastal areas of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures to evacuate.

"Please stay evacuated and stay on alert," Japan's public broadcaster NHK said just a minute ago.

 

'Please remember the Great East Japan Earthquake'

NHK, Japan's national public broadcaster, is continuing to tell people to evacuate after a tsunami warning was issued for Fukushima prefecture and Miyagi prefecture

"Please go to the higher ground right now. If there is no higher ground around you please go up higher buildings, and please evacuate the seaside. Please inform your neighbours," NHK said.

"Please remember the Great East Japan Earthquake. Please evacuate now.

"Please tell your neighbours that there is a tsunami warning already issued.

"It's becoming cold, so therefore please try to wear warm clothes."

No major injuries reported from quake

No major injuries have been reported from Tuesday morning's 7.4-magnuitude earthquake.

One woman suffered cuts to her head from falling dishes, Kyodo news agency reported, citing fire department officials.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK is showing footage of ships moving out to sea from Fukushima harbours as tsunami warning signals wail in the background.

Earthquake magnitude upgraded

The Japan Meteorological Agency initially measured the earthquake's magnitude at 7.3. It has now upgraded that magnitude to 7.4.

Tsunami wave higher than a metre observed

A tsunami wave higher than 1.4 metres was seen at Sendai-ko at 8.03am, local time - or about 15 minutes ago.

A 1.4 metre tsunami wave was recorded at Sendai-ko at 8.0am.

A 1.4 metre tsunami wave was recorded at Sendai-ko at 8.03am. Photo: JMA

 

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Cooling system restarted

NHK is reporting that the cooling equipment for the spent nuclear fuel pool at Tepco's Daini Reactor 3 power plant is back up and running.

Footage shows shaking from quake

Reactor's cooling system stopped

National public broadcaster NHK is reporting that the Fukushima Daini Reactor 3 cooling system automatically stopped operating when the earthquake struck, but "no abnormalities have been observed".

The Tokyo Electric Power Company says cooling water has not leaked and it is preparing to resume operation between one and two hours.

NHK reports that it does not appear that the plant has been damaged by the earthquake.

 

 

Three more tsunami waves observed

Three more tsumani waves have been observed, the Japan Meteorological Agency said:

  • An 80-centimetre wave was seen at 7.37am local time at Kuji-ko
  • An 80-centimetre wave was seen at 7.39am at Ishinomaki-shi Ayukawa
  • An 80-centimetre wave was seen at Sendai-ko. 

No reports of quake damage at power plant

Tokyo Electric Company, which operates the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, said there were no immediate reports of damage from Tuesday's earthquake.

The quake quickly triggered tsunami warnings along the same coast that was ravaged just over five years ago.

During the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011, three reactors at the plant melted down.

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  • Peter Hannam

Quake 'much smaller than 2011'

Hugh Glanville, senior duty seismologist at GeoScience Australia, said his organisation estimates the quake to be of 7.1 magnitude, with revised depth of 15 kilometres.

First reports indicate a tsunami of 60cm height reaching nearby Iwaki Prefecture's shores.

"It's still considerable [in height] but often the following waves can be bigger," Mr Glanville said, noting tsunamis typically need a quake with a magnitude of 6.5 to be generated.

Early indications, though, put the quake at a much smaller size than the March 2011 monster of 9.1 magnitude.

"It's about 900 times less energy released and about 100 times less shaky," he said.

While quakes of Tuesday's magnitude can have variable impact of future quakes, this one may indicate a larger quake is possible.

"It's quite a distance off the subjunction zone and quite shallow so it could be related to a fault that comes off the major plate boundary fault there,"  he said, adding that more information will be needed to be sure.

 Still, "there is a higher likelihood of larger earthquake occurring in the immediate vicinity over the next 30 days or so," he added.

The region had a 6-magnitude temblor recently and 4.6 one just under a day ago.

"There's lots of activity there all the time," with the Pacific and Eurasian plates colliding in the region, he said.

Japan earthquake: what we know

 Magnitude 7.3-earthquake strikes near Japan coast at 6am local time (8am AEDT)

* Japan Meteorological Agency warns of 3-metre tsunami

* Waves of up to 90 cm observed at Fukushima

* Region affected is the same devastated by 2011 earthquake and tsunami

* Nuclear plants say no immediate signs of damage

* No immediate reports of damage or injury

- Reuters

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  • Miriam Webber

Australian in Tokyo says shaking lasted five minutes

Mandy, an Australian tourist in Tokyo, has described her experience of the earthquake. She was on the 28th floor of a hotel when it hit.

"We were asleep, it was approximately 6am and the beds started shaking, and then we thought 'What's happening?'," Mandy said.

"The building started shaking and when it started creaking, we realised something was up.

"It felt weird, maybe like a ride at Luna Park or something, sort of just the shaking motion. It lasted a good probably five minutes, that's why we started to get worried. We've been here before when it's been like, about one minute, but this time it was definitely longer."

Initial tsunami observations along Fukushima coast

Initial tsunami observations along the Fukushima coast.

Initial tsunami observations along the Fukushima coast. Photo: Japan Meteorological Agency.

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