Japan has gone on to issue its first-ever megaquake warning and advisory after a massive earthquake struck the popular tourist nation today.
Sources from local media outlets were seen speaking about the 7.6 magnitude quake hit off the coast of Aomori, Iwate, and Aomori. Tsunami waves were seen hitting up to 2 feet before warnings were lifted with immediate effect.
The quake gave rise to serious infrastructural damage, with temporary evacuations and disruption to transport taking center stage.
Following the event, the JMA issued a special megaquake advisory for parts of northern Japan, which is the first of its kind under the latest system.
This alerted residents, raising the risk to a much higher level of a much larger quake and huge tsunami in the coming week that could measure 8 or higher on the Richter scale.
Japan is said to lie in the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates frequently cause strong earthquakes. Historical patterns and expert models have shown regions such as the Nankai Trough posing a long-term megaquake risk with the chance for bigger quakes and more alarming tsunamis in the future. But the exact timing of this remains unpredictable.