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A tsunami alert has been issued following a major eathquake off the southern coast of Japan.
The earthquake, which occurred early Saturday morning, was of a magnitude ranging from 6.9 to 7.3.
The higher 7.3 reading was recorded by the American Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which said the earthquake was centered off the coast of Okinawa, 1,600 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, at a depth of ten kilometres. It said the quake occurred at 5:31am Saturday local time.
The center has warned a tsunami of up to two metres could envelope Okinawa. Coastal areas on the island have been issued with evacuation orders. Fortunately the island underwent a massive earthquake and tsunami drill just three months ago.
Japan's Meteorological Agency, which measured the quake at 6.9 said it shook Okinawa and other surrounding islands.
Curiously another earthquake in the location took place almost at exactly the same time just over a year ago. According to the U.S. Geological Service an earthquake of a magnitude of 5.0 occurred off Okinawa at 5:35am on December 11, 2008.
The earthquake, which occurred early Saturday morning, was of a magnitude ranging from 6.9 to 7.3.
The higher 7.3 reading was recorded by the American Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which said the earthquake was centered off the coast of Okinawa, 1,600 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, at a depth of ten kilometres. It said the quake occurred at 5:31am Saturday local time.
The center has warned a tsunami of up to two metres could envelope Okinawa. Coastal areas on the island have been issued with evacuation orders. Fortunately the island underwent a massive earthquake and tsunami drill just three months ago.
Japan's Meteorological Agency, which measured the quake at 6.9 said it shook Okinawa and other surrounding islands.
Curiously another earthquake in the location took place almost at exactly the same time just over a year ago. According to the U.S. Geological Service an earthquake of a magnitude of 5.0 occurred off Okinawa at 5:35am on December 11, 2008.
