20 Mar 2021 | 11:00 AM UTC
Japan: Major earthquake occurs in northern Honshu March 20; a tsunami advisory has been lifted /update 1
Tsunami Advisory for Miyagi Prefecture lifted after magnitude-7.0 earthquake occurs in northern Honshu, Japan, at around 18:09 March 20.
Event
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has lifted a Tsunami Advisory for coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture following a magnitude-7.0 earthquake that struck near Sendai at 18:09 March 20. The US National Weather Service's (NWS) US Tsunami Warning System had also issued a Tsunami Threat in response to the earthquake; this warning has also been lifted. JMA maintains a Tsunami Forecast (slight sea-level changes) for coastal areas of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures as of 19:45 March 20. The quake, which was felt across central and northern Japan, has resulted in at least one reported injury and disruptions to Tohoku Shinkansen rail services in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Officials had also earlier issued evacuation orders for hundreds of residents in Watari, Miyagi Prefecture. No significant damage has been reported as yet. Some power outages have occurred.
The earthquake's epicenter was about 66 km (41 miles) northeast of Sendai. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 60 km (37 miles), and strong shaking was felt throughout Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima, with lighter shaking felt as far as Tokyo. It could take several more hours until authorities can finalize damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days.
Officials may maintain transportation shutdowns in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found.
Advice
Monitor local media for further updates from the authorities. Exercise caution near coastal areas. Vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred; aftershocks could cause additional damage. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available. Due to the threat of landslides, seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area. Reconfirm the status of all transportation in the impact area through March 20, particularly in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures.
