View Image

Tsunami waves of up to three metres could strike Japan after a powerful earthquake struckoffshore on Monday (December 8).

The Japan Meterological Agency (JMA) confirmed that a major quake was detected at 11.15pm local time, shaking a wide area across northern and eastern Japan.

The tremor was centred off the coasts of Aomori and Hokkaido, where tsunami alerts have been triggered. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake registered as a magnitude of 7.6 and struck around 70-80km (44-50 miles) off the coastline at a depth of around 33-50km.

An earthquake of this scale is classified as 'major', capable of causing widespead damage and a threat to life. The JMA has warned that a tsunami could reach a height of almost 10 feet (three meters) along som

See Full Page