Minor tsunami waves have been observed in Japan following a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of the Philippines. The Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed a small tsunami reached Okinawa’s main island at approximately 12:18 PM local time. This observation followed the issuance of a tsunami advisory for the Pacific coastlines spanning the eastern, western, and southern regions of the country.
Pacific Islands Experience Tsunami Activity
Further reports indicate a 20-centimeter tsunami was recorded at Chichijima Island, part of the Ogasawara Islands. This location is situated roughly 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo. The tsunami arrived at Chichijima around 1:46 PM. Earlier in the day, the agency had alerted the public to the potential for tsunami waves reaching up to 1 meter in height, with specific warnings issued for Miyako Island and the Yaeyama islets in Okinawa, among other areas.
Advisory Covers Extensive Coastal Regions
The tsunami advisory encompassed a broad stretch of Japan’s coastline, extending from Ibaraki prefecture, located near Tokyo, all the way south to Okinawa prefecture, Japan’s southernmost island region.
Earthquake Details and Government Response
The seismic event originated approximately 26 kilometers southwest of Kablalan in the Philippines, occurring at a depth of 55.2 kilometers. The earthquake struck around 7:38 AM local time. It is worth noting that the same region experienced a significant M7.6 earthquake in December 2023.
In response to the tsunami threat, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced via social media that she has directed relevant ministries and agencies to implement necessary measures to prevent potential damage. At one point, evacuation orders were issued for over 195,000 individuals across 10 prefectures, including Chiba, Kochi, and Okinawa, according to information from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
