Japan issued a tsunami advisory for Iwate prefecture on Sunday after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit the northern Pacific region, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake occurred around 5:03 pm local time in waters off Iwate, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The agency warned that tsunami waves up to one metre (three feet) could reach the coast at any time.

Quake Details from India’s Seismology Center

India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS) recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 6.6. It occurred at a depth of 30 kilometres, located at 39.51°N latitude and 143.38°E longitude in the North Pacific Ocean.

“A tsunami advisory has been issued for the Iwate coast,” AFP reported, quoting a JMA bulletin. The agency cautioned residents to stay alert as waves “could approach at any moment.”

Officials Warn Residents to Stay Away from Coast

Japan’s national broadcaster NHK said that offshore tsunami waves had been detected, urging people to avoid coastal areas immediately. However, live television footage showed mostly calm seas in the affected regions.

Authorities said no immediate damage or injuries were reported, but emergency services remained on high alert.

Memories of the 2011 Tsunami Disaster

The latest quake has revived painful memories of the 2011 undersea earthquake, one of Japan’s worst natural disasters. That quake measured 9.0 in magnitude and triggered a massive tsunami that killed or left about 18,500 people missing.

The same event caused three reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant to melt down, marking Japan’s worst post-war catastrophe and the world’s most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

Japan’s High Seismic Risk

Japan lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where four major tectonic plates meet. This makes it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.

The country experiences nearly 1,500 earthquakes each year, most of which are minor. However, the extent of damage often depends on the quake’s depth and location.