7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Japan, Tsunami Warning Issued

On Saturday, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck north-eastern Japan, leading officials to issue a tsunami warning for Miyagi prefecture.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of a 1-metre-high tsunami in Miyagi, and the first tsunami wave has already swept ashore in the city of Ishinomaki, according to the dpa news agency, citing national broadcaster NHK.

According to NHK footage, the warning led some Miyagi residents to flee to higher ground in preparation for the possible arrival of a tsunami.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities or property damage.

The quake also rocked Tokyo’s buildings.

The quake struck at 6.09 p.m. (local time), with the epicentre at 38.4 degrees north, 141.7 degrees east, and a depth of 60 kilometers, according to the agency.

On March 11, Japan commemorated the tenth anniversary of a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami that struck the same area in 2011, killing or missing about 18,400 people.

The twin natural disasters resulted in a triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, releasing radioactive materials into the environment. The nuclear emergency prompted hundreds of thousands of residents to flee their homes.

A month ago, a magnitude-7.3 quake also rocked the north-east, killing one person and injuring about 190 others.

Japan sits at the convergence of four tectonic plates, making it especially prone to seismic activity.

The country is also home to 100 active volcanoes.