Strong Earthquake Hits Japan Followed by Mild Tsunami

Strong earthquake of 6.8 magnitude on Richter scale hit the Northern Japan followed by a mild tsunami on Wednesday afternoon. No damage or injury has been reported so far. Several towns issued evacuation advisories to residents nearest the coast. A swelling of 10 centimeters (2.5 inches) was observed in the town of Erimo on Hokkaido island, while no major changes were reported elsewhere.

Today's tremor was epi-centered about 146 miles (235 kilometers) south of Kushiro, Japan, on Hokkaido island. It was a relatively shallow 6 miles (10 kilometers) below the sea surface. The quake was not felt in Tokyo, and there was no threat of a Pacific-wide tsunami. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the tremor was 6.8 magnitude and forecast a tsunami of up to half-meter (12 inches) could hit Hokkaido island's central and eastern Pacific coast, and Aomori and Iwate prefectures in the north of Japan's main island.

It is to be recalled that, a year ago on 11 March 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami ravaged many Japanese northern coastal towns, leaving some 19,000 people dead or missing.