Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake in Japan's Aomori Triggers 3-Meter Tsunami Alert for Hokkaido and Iwate

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture at 4:53 PM local time (3:53 PM Taipei time) today, with seismic intensity of 5-upper (Gōshingō). The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning, urging residents to evacuate.

According to the Meteorological Agency, the earthquake's epicenter was in the Sanriku offshore area at a depth of 10 kilometers. Many areas in Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, and Miyagi Prefecture recorded seismic intensity of 5-lower, while Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Niigata Prefectures also recorded seismic intensity of 2.

It is estimated that a tsunami of up to 3 meters will reach the central Pacific coast of Hokkaido around 5:30 PM, and a 3-meter tsunami will reach Iwate Prefecture around 5:00 PM. (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150420