A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off Iwate Prefecture on Sunday evening, prompting a tsunami advisory that was lifted shortly after 8 p.m. Waves reached up to 20 centimeters, with no reports of injuries or damage. The Tohoku Shinkansen was briefly suspended.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at 5:03 p.m. on November 9. Initially reported as magnitude 6.7, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) revised it to 6.9. The quake registered 4 on Japan's seismic intensity scale in Morioka and Yahaba in Iwate, as well as Wakuya in neighboring Miyagi Prefecture.
Following the quake, a tsunami advisory was issued for Iwate, warning of possible waves up to 1 meter. According to the JMA, a 20 cm tsunami was observed at Kuji Port at 5:52 p.m., and another 20 cm at Ofunato Port at 6:25 p.m. A 10 cm wave was also recorded in Miyako. The advisory was lifted shortly after 8 p.m.
By 8:30 p.m., 11 aftershocks had hit the area, including one of magnitude 6.3 measuring shindo 3. There were no initial reports of injuries or damage.
East Japan Railway reported that the Tohoku Shinkansen briefly lost power and suspended operations between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations. Tohoku Electric Power confirmed no abnormalities at its Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on her X account, urging people to "move away from the coast and be on alert for aftershocks and tsunami waves." A JMA official stated at a Sunday evening news conference that "earthquakes of similar or even stronger intensity could occur in the next few days."
