Japan: Tsunami advisory issued after magnitude-5.4 offshore earthquake occurs near Izu Islands at around 06:17 Oct. 9

Event

A magnitude-5.4 offshore earthquake occurred near the Izu Islands at around 06:17 Oct. 9. The epicenter was about 552 km (342 miles) south of Shimoda, Japan. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking was probably felt in parts of the Izu and Ogasawara islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, damage is possible as authorities have issued a tsunami advisory for the Izu and Ogasawara islands, warning that waves of up to 1 meter (3 feet) are possible in those areas. Authorities have advised individuals near coastal areas, lakes, or rivers to evacuate to higher ground immediately. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure 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. Utility outages are possible in areas impacted by shaking and tsunami waves.

Advice

Move away from the immediate coastline; tsunamis can be long-duration events, and the threat may persist for hours. 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.