Japanese Authorities have lifted tsunami warnings on Tuesday hours after a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern regions, injuring at least 30 people and forcing about 90,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
The earthquake struck off the coast at 11:15 p.m. (1415 GMT) on Monday, and the Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami as high as 3 metres (10 feet) could hit the country’s northeastern coast.
Warnings were issued for the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, and tsunamis from 20 to 70 cm (7 to 27 inches) high were observed at several ports, JMA said.
By the early hours of Tuesday, the JMA downgraded the warnings to advisories, and later lifted all advisories. There were no reports of major damage.
READ ALSO:Japan Marks 12 Years Tsunami And Nuclear Disaster
The epicentre of the quake was 80 km (50 miles) off the coast of Aomori prefecture, at a depth of 54 km.
On Japan’s 1-7 scale of seismic intensity, the tremor registered as an upper 6 in Hachinohe city, Aomori prefecture – a quake strong enough to make it impossible to keep standing or move without crawling.
“As of now, I have received reports of 30 people being injured and one fire,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters.
“East Japan Railway (9020.T), opens new tab suspended some services in the area, which was also hit by a massive 9.0-magnitude quake in March 2011. Other train services are facing delays in northern Japan,” the operator said.
Following the tremor, the JMA issued an advisory for a wide region from the northernmost island of Hokkaido down to Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, calling on residents to be on alert for the possibility of a powerful earthquake hitting again within a week.
“There is a possibility that further powerful and stronger earthquakes could occur over the next several days,” a JMA official stated.
“No irregularities were reported at nuclear power plants in the region run by Tohoku Electric Power (9506.T), opens new tab and Hokkaido Electric Power (9509.T), opens new tab,” the utilities said.
Thousands of households had lost power immediately following the quake, but service resumed by Tuesday morning.
Reuters/Wumi