A 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan and caused small tsunami waves but no apparent damage Friday, days after a stronger quake in the same region.
Friday’s quake occurred off the east coast of Aomori prefecture, in the north of Honshu, the main Japanese island, at a depth of about 12 miles, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which issued a tsunami advisory that was lifted about two hours later.
Small waves were reported in Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures, but no serious damage or injuries were reported.
The quake followed a 7.5 magnitude earthquakeย Monday that caused injuries, light damage and a small tsunami on Japan’s Pacific coast.
No tsunami alerts were issued Friday for the West Coast of the U.S. or Hawaii. ย
Monday’s earthquake, also off the coast of Aomori, caused at least 34 injuries and damaged roads and buildings. It also triggered a tsunami of up to 28 inches in some Pacific coast communities.ย
It prompted Japan on Tuesday to issue a megaquake advisory.ย
The government estimated that an offshore megaquake could cause a tsunami of up to 98 feet and kill nearly 200,000 people. Officials said the advisory was not a prediction, and the probability of a magnitude 8 or larger quake was only about 1%.ย
There was hope the advisory would serve as a wake-up call for a quake that could have the devastation of theย 2011 disasterย that killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed a nuclear plant.
Monday’s quake temporarily increased potential risks in the regions of Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast. That’s where the Pacific Plate beneath Japan forms the two trenches โ the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench โ that have caused many large quakes in the past.
