Japanese authorities have issued a rare warning that a “megaquake” could strike Japan’s northern coast within the next week, after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit the area on Monday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the late-night quake, centered 54 km deep off Aomori’s Pacific coast at 11:15 pm, has increased the likelihood of another tremor of equal or greater strength in the region.

Japan’s unprecedented “megaquake” advisory means the risk of a magnitude 8 or higher earthquake off its northern Pacific coast is temporarily higher than usual, but the absolute probability remains low.

What Japan’s warning means

On Monday night, a 7.5magnitude quake struck off the Pacific coast of Aomori, northern Honshu, at a depth of about 54 km, triggering small tsunamis of around 60 cm to 7

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