Japan earthquake live: People urged not to return to coast despite tsunami warnings being downgraded – UK Times

Japan has downgraded its tsunami warnings to advisories but residents are still advised to stay away from the coast.

A tsunami warning indicates waves of two or three metres while an advisory predicts waves of around one metre.

But emergency app alert NERV advises people to stay away from coastal areas.

Residents of areas subject to tsunami warnings have been asked to immediately move away from the coast and rivers and take shelter on higher ground, according to Japan’s weather agency.

The regions with the highest-level warnings are Iwate and central Hokkaido, though tsunami alerts are in place for most of Japan’s eastern coastline.

Officials in Japan have issued an advisory for northern coastal areas for an increased risk of a possible mega-quake induced by a major quake earlier in the day.

The Cabinet Office and the Japan Meteorological Agency said there is 1 per cent chance for a mega-quake occurring on the northern Japanese coast in the next week or so following the powerful quake earlier Monday near the Chishima trough.

Officials said the advisory is not a quake prediction but urged residents to raise their preparedness, such as emergency food and their grab bag just in case, while continuing their daily lives.

The advisory for the region is the second in recent months. One was issued following another major quake in December. No major subsequent quake occurred.

As of 7.44pm, the tsunami alert and advisories were still in place in Japan, with warnings of a wave of up to 3 metres (10 feet).

However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami threat from the quake “has now passed.”

The tsunami centre monitors the threat of major waves in countries across the Pacific Basin as well as to Hawaii and all other US interests in the Pacific outside of Alaska and the US West Coast.

People nearest the earthquake epicentre are being urged to move to higher ground, tsunami warnings still in place.

Iwate and three other northern prefectures have issued non-binding evacuation advisories to more than 128,000 residents, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

The agency said officials are assessing the situation but so far no damage or injuries have been reported, including at power stations and other facilities.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has warned that a bigger tsunami may hit after the first wave.

In the hour following the earthquake, ​which ⁠struck at 4.52pm (0752 GMT), tsunami waves as high as 80 cm had been detected, while warnings remained for waves as high as 3 metres.

The agency had earlier issued tsunami warnings in parts of Hokkaido and Iwate prefectures.