Japan

Rìběn

日本

Sanriku (northeastern Japan coast)

Sānlù

三陆

coastal area / coastline

yánhǎi

沿海

to occur / to take place

fāshēng

发生

magnitude 7.7

7.7 jí

7.7级

powerful earthquake / strong tremor

qiángzhèn

强震

，

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

qìxiàngtīng

气象厅

to issue / to release officially

fābù

发布

rare / uncommon

hǎnjiàn

罕见

subsequent / follow-up

hòuxù

后续

major earthquake / megaquake

dà dìzhèn

大地震

warning / alert

jǐnggào

警告

。

New Words

News in English

Japan Issues Rare Megaquake Warning After 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Sanriku Coast

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Sanriku coast on April 20, triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted. The JMA warned that the probability of a megaquake above magnitude 8 within the next week has risen approximately tenfold.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred off the Sanriku coast in northeastern Japan on April 20th afternoon. The epicenter was located approximately 100 kilometers off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 20 kilometers. Japan's Meteorological Agency immediately issued a tsunami warning predicting maximum waves up to 3 meters along the coast. The actual tsunami height was far below the warning level, with Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture recording approximately 80 centimeters of waves. The earthquake caused four people to be injured during evacuation, and about 26 buildings in Aomori Prefecture sustained damage. Authorities issued evacuation orders to over 82,000 households across Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and other regions. The tsunami warning was subsequently lifted, but the Meteorological Agency issued a rare special advisory on subsequent earthquakes effective through April 27th. The agency stated the probability of magnitude 8 megaquakes within one week has increased about tenfold, urging residents to maintain heightened vigilance.

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