News of earthquakes in Japan is common – we covered news of a 7.5 magnitude tremor as recently as December – but it’s obviously still a worrying occurrence if you plan to travel to the country soon.
On Monday April 20, another 7.5 magnitude quake struck off the coast of Japan and tsunami and evacuation advice has since been issued across the affected region. We’ve compiled all the latest information on whether it’s safe to travel, so scroll on for our guide.
Where did the earthquake hit in Japan?
The Independent reports that the earthquake’s epicenter measured around 10km deep and originated in the Pacific Ocean, off the Sanriku coast. It struck at 4.53pm local time, and though it was originally measured at a magnitude of 7.3, that has since been upgraded to a 7.5, or an ‘upper five’ on Japan’s own seismic scale.
Is there a tsunami warning in place?
Yes – according to the Guardian, Japan’s Meteorological Agency has announced a warning in parts of the Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures for a tsunami up to three metres high, though the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has since lifted its own tsunami warning.
At the time of writing, a 40cm wave has been recorded at Miyako port in Iwate prefecture, as well as at around 50km off the coast of Aomori.
Is it safe to travel?
Right now, an evacuation advisory is still in place which has warned 128,000 people in affected areas to move to higher ground. These have come from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and the highest-level warnings apply to Iwate and central Hokkaido, though most of Japan’s east coast has been alerted.
These warnings are non-binding and so far, no injuries or damage have been reported.
Are flights still running to and from Japan after the earthquake?
Yes – Shin-chitose and Sendai airports are the two hubs closest to the affected areas, and both continue to operate normally. If you have plans to travel to Japan imminently, double check your flight status directly with your operator, though it seems all services departing from and arriving in the region will be running.
What’s the latest advice from the FCDO?
The FCDO hasn’t made any changes to its advice based on this tremor, but the safety and security page for Japan contains a section on earthquakes and tsunamis. It reads: ‘Japan is in a major earthquake zone. The Japan Meteorological Agency provides a list of helpful apps and websites in the event of disaster. See further earthquake safety tips from the Japan National Tourism Agency.
‘Monitor earthquake information, including tsunami and aftershock warnings, from the Japan Meteorological Agency. See further news on earthquakes at NHK World.’
When was the last earthquake in Japan?
Given it sits over not two, not three, but four tectonic plate boundaries (the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian and North American) Japan is highly susceptible to tremors and subsequent tsunami risks.
Another 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan back in December, but over recent years, the most notable seismic event was the March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. It was a magnitude 9 earthquake, one of the biggest recorded for 100 years, and it led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster and a presumed death toll of almost 20,000 people.
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