Japan Issues Tsunami Warning Following 7.5-Magnitude Earthquake, Urges Evacuations
A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan, prompting a tsunami warning and evacuation orders for coastal areas. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the earthquake's epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean, 20 kilometers deep. Tsunami waves of up to three meters were initially forecasted, leading to evacuation orders in several port towns, including Otsuchi and Kamaishi. These areas were previously affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The government set up an emergency task force, and bullet train services were halted as a precaution. Although the tsunami warning was later downgraded to an advisory, the government warned of a heightened risk of a megaquake in the coming week.