Japan issued an evacuation advisory for coastal areas near the southern prefecture of Okinawa after a powerful earthquake triggered a tsunami warning.
Tsunami Warning: Evacuation Advisory in Okinawa After Earthquake Triggers
The Japan Meteorological Agency projected a tsunami of up to 3 meters to reach Japan’s southwestern coast around 10 a.m. (0100 GMT).
This warning followed an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 in the ocean near Taiwan. Earthquakes are frequent in Japan, one of the world’s most seismically active regions, accounting for approximately one-fifth of earthquakes worldwide with a magnitude of 6 or higher.
The nation was devastated by a magnitude 9 earthquake on March 11, 2011, along the northeast coast, resulting in a massive tsunami and triggering the worst nuclear crisis globally since Chernobyl. The death toll rose to nine, and numerous people were missing or trapped in rubble after a massive earthquake struck Taiwan.
Authorities cautioned that hazardous aftershocks could continue to affect the densely populated island nation for several days.
Taiwan’s National Fire Agency reported over 900 injuries when the earthquake, measured at 7.2 magnitude by local officials and 7.4 by the U.S. Geological Survey, hit near the east coast city of Hualien around 8 a.m. local time. Buildings in Hualien, a renowned tourist destination situated 100 miles south of Taipei, started to tremble, resulting in some structural damage.
The situation worsened with a series of aftershocks, some registering magnitudes as high as 6.5, leading to numerous buildings collapsing or leaning precariously, trapping many individuals inside.
Additionally, around seventy people were trapped in a mine located in Heping, northwest of Hualien.
Landslides obstructed highways, causing power outages for hundreds of thousands of households.
Although a tsunami warning was initially issued for the Philippines and southern Japan following the earthquake, it was later rescinded.
Chang Yu-lin, an employee at a hospital in Taipei, described the earthquake as “very strong,” heightening concerns about the stability of their residence. Rescue and recovery efforts are currently underway following the earthquake that struck Taipei, causing power outages in various parts of the city.
Additionally, authorities have reported losing contact with 50 travelers who were aboard four minibuses en route to a hotel in Taroko Gorge, a national park. President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan has announced the deployment of military personnel to assist with rescue and recovery operations. She has also assured that federal and local governments will collaborate to minimize the impact of the disasters.
The earthquake’s epicenter was identified as very shallow and near land, attributed to movement in the Philippine Sea Plate.
According to Wu, the seismic activity felt particularly strong in Taipei due to the “basin effect,” wherein earthquake vibrations are trapped in soft ground.
This earthquake marks Taiwan’s largest since the devastating 1999 Jiji earthquake, which claimed the lives of over 2,400 individuals and left 11,300 others injured.
Following a powerful earthquake that struck Taiwan on Wednesday morning, a significant tsunami warning was issued for the main island of Okinawa, as well as Miyako Island and the Yaeyama area of Okinawa Prefecture.
In response, local residents swiftly evacuated to higher ground or sought refuge on the upper floors of buildings, anxiously monitoring the sea for signs of approaching waves.
Utilizing a community radio system for disaster prevention, the Ishigaki city government issued evacuation advisories in Japanese, English, and Chinese on Ishigaki Island.
Meanwhile, a 45-year-old man who operates a marine sports store in Miyakojima City on Miyako Island recounted his immediate evacuation with his family upon receiving the tsunami warning.
In response to the situation, the Self-Defense Forces conducted reconnaissance efforts, deploying a fighter jet and helicopter to gather information.
Approximately 30 residents sought refuge at the Air Self-Defense Force’s Onna Sub Base in the village of Onna, while another 40 private vehicles headed to the Miyakojima Sub-Base in Miyakojima, as reported by the bases. At 9:25 a.m., Naha Airport suspended all incoming flights, according to the airport’s management office.
Airlines operating in the region indicated that flights bound for Naha, Ishigaki, Miyako, and other destinations either returned to their departure points or diverted to alternative airports.
“We observed a tsunami,” remarked Japan Meteorological Agency official Shigeki Aoki during a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Urging residents in coastal areas or near rivers to swiftly relocate to higher ground, Aoki emphasized the importance of immediate evacuation for safety.
Taiwan, situated in a region prone to seismic activity, lies near the boundary of the Eurasian Plate on the Eurasian Continent side and the Philippine Sea Plate on the Pacific side.
In 1999, a devastating earthquake struck central Taiwan, claiming over 2,400 lives.
Additionally, in 2016, Tainan experienced a massive earthquake that led to the collapse of a 16-story building, resulting in the loss of more than 100 lives. Fumihiko Imamura, a professor of tsunami engineering at Tohoku University, noted that while earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater occur annually near the epicenter of Wednesday’s earthquake, those surpassing magnitude 7.5 are infrequent.
He explained that the seabed becomes shallower in the direction of Okinawa from the epicenter, heightening the potential for tsunamis to intensify.
Imamura cautioned that there is a high likelihood of observing a tsunami approximately 1 meter in height could be observed.
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