Mar 16 (NHK) - A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off Japan's northeast coast late Wednesday night. The Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami advisory for the prefectures of Fukushima and Miyagi.
The quake struck at 11:36 p.m. and had a maximum intensity of 6-plus on Japan's seismic scale of zero to 7. The depth of the focus is estimated at 60 kilometers.
Tremors were felt across wide areas of eastern Japan. A tsunami 1-meter-high is expected to hit coastal areas.
Waves up to 20 centimeters have already been reported at Ishinomaki Port in Miyagi Prefecture.
Meteorological Agency officials are calling on people in the affected areas to stay away from the coast.
Municipalities along the Pacific coast in Miyagi Prefecture have issued evacuation orders to residents and set up shelters. The quake triggered blackouts and disrupted train services in wide areas, including the greater Tokyo area.
Emergency responders in the city of Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture say they have received many reports of injuries. They have also received reports of structural damage and fires.
Source: ANNnewsCH
