Tsunmai warning issued after massive 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes off the coast of Japan

Tsunmai warning issued after massive 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes off the coast of Japan 

Japan on Saturday experienced a strong earthquake that shook buildings in the capital, Tokyo, and caused a tsunami advisory for the country's northeast coast. The magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near the east coast of Honshu, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said. Japan public broadcaster NHK warned residents a tsunami of one metre was expected for Miyagi Prefecture. The quake hit at 6:09 pm (0909 GMT) in Pacific waters off Miyagi region with a depth of 60 kilometres (37 miles), the JMA said, issuing an advisory for tsunami waves of around one metre. Tohoku Electric Power Co has halted the Onagawa nuclear plant and is checking for any irregularities, NHK said. There were no immediate reports of damage. Some residents of coastal communities said they had fled to higher ground after the advisory was issued Saturday evening. 'I recalled that day 10 years ago,' a man in Ishinomaki city told national broadcaster NHK as he fled to a park on a hill. 'Because of our experience of that day, I moved quickly. My heart is pounding hard,' he said. Source