A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the shores of northeastern Japan on Monday. Following the quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for Iwate Prefecture.
Although Japan is accustomed to regular quakes of lower magnitudes, an earthquake event near 7.0 is worth noting. The quake comes just one month before the four-year anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku 9.0 magnitude quake that resulted in a massive tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
[seealso slug="three-years-after-fukushima"]
【岩手沿岸に津波注意報】（再掲）午前8時6分ころ、岩手県や青森県などで震度4を観測する地震がありました。この地震で岩手県沿岸に津波注意報が出ています。 到達予想時刻は午前8時30分、予想される津波の高さは1mです。（08:15） pic.twitter.com/RJP9HKosw7— ＮＨＫ生活・防災 (@nhk_seikatsu) February 16, 2015
In response to this latest quake, TEPCO, the company charged with maintaining the still damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, sent a message via Twitter to allay any fears of trouble at the facility.
No abnormalities reported at TEPCO nuclear power plants after earthquake and tsunami alert in northern Japan— TEPCO (@TEPCO_English) February 16, 2015