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Japan: tsunami risk after magnitude 6.6 earthquake

The earth shook in Japan. An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale was recorded this Thursday off the coast of the Izu archipelago, south of Tokyo, in the Pacific Ocean, Japanese public television NHK and news agency Reuters reported. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of a possible tsunami risk, prompting authorities to issue a warning around 11am.

Authorities estimate waves on the Izu Peninsula could reach one meter in height. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Pacific Ocean, near the island of Torishima, about 550 km from the Japanese capital, the press agency clarifies. Eight tremors were recorded in the region by the American Geological Institute USGS.

In Japan, earthquakes are part of everyday life due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. The basic rules are known to everyone, students undergo annual anti-seismic drills in schools and every employee must participate in annual evacuation drills.

In recent years, the country has been more willing to sound alarms to avoid the March 11, 2011 disaster. A powerful tsunami has left more than 18,000 people dead and missing after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake devastated the northeast of the country.

This tsunami caused the accident of three reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which is still considered the worst disaster in post-war Japan and the most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

Source: Le Parisien

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