Quake Triggers Tsunami Advisories for Japan’s Hokkaido, Aomori

Tokyo, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–Japan issued tsunami advisories for the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures from northern to northeastern Japan after another offshore earthquake shook the regions late Friday morning. Around 11:44 a.m., a quake with an estimated magnitude of 6.7 occurred off Aomori, recording a seismic intensity of 4 in Hokkaido’s Hakodate, Aomori’s Hachinohe, Iwate’s Morioka and some other places, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The intensity was the sixth-highest level on Japan’s 10-point scale. In Hokkaido, a 20-centimeter tsunami was observed at 12:35 p.m. in the town of Erimo. Another 20-centimeter tsunami was recorded in a port in Aomori’s Hachinohe. The quake’s focus, believed to be about 20 kilometers deep, was near that of Monday’s 7.5-magnitude temblor, which shook Aomori, Hokkaido and other prefectures and triggered tsunami waves. In response to Monday’s quake, the agency issued what it calls a subsequent quake advisory that warns of a possible further quake off the Hokkaido and Sanriku regions from northern to northeastern Japan. This advisory will remain in place until the end of Monday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]