Powerful quake strikes off the coast of Japan, tsunami advisory lifted after 3 hours

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage and authorities said no irregularities were found at the two nuclear power plants in the region.

The agency initially issued a tsunami advisory, warning that waves could reach up to one metre along parts of the northern coastline. Later, it said the water level could rise as high as three metre in some areas.

Small tsunami waves of about 10 centimetre were recorded in Ofunato, Ominato, Miyako and Kamaishi, and later waves of up to 20 centimetre were observed in Kuji and Ofunato.

Officials advised residents to stay away from the coast while the warning was in place and said more tremors could follow.

The tsunami advisory was lifted around three hours after the first quake. However, the meteorological agency said the area could still experience strong aftershocks for about a week, especially over the next two or three days.

Several smaller quakes were also recorded in Iwate and on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island.

An agency official told reporters there was no evidence linking Sunday’s quake to the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan. “The region is generally at risk for major quakes,” the official said, noting that a large tremor had struck in 1992.

Rail operator JR East said bullet train services in the region were briefly suspended but later resumed.

Japan, which lies along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, experiences frequent earthquakes. The 2011 disaster, centred just south of Iwate, caused a tsunami and a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, killing nearly 20,000 people and forcing many to leave their homes. Demonstrations are still held to protest what some see as insufficient recognition of nuclear safety risks.

(With inputs from AP )