Japan earthquake triggers tsunami warning along Pacific coast

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast in Iwate Prefecture in Japan on Monday, triggering a tsunami warning for Iwate and parts of Hokkaido and Aomori Prefecture, according to Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

MAP: Tsunami warning area along Japan’s Pacific coast. JMA

Tsunami waves of up to 3 metres are expected in these regions. A broader advisory also covers Hokkaido, Aomori, Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture, where water levels may reach up to 1 metre.

An 80-cm tsunami has struck Kuji Port in Iwate, with water levels continuing to rise, while a 40-cm wave has also been recorded at Miyako Port, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.

Ports along Japan’s Pacific coast - including Tomakomai, Muroran, Hachinohe, Kamaishi, Ofunato, Sendai–Shiogama and Onahama - may be impacted.

As a precaution, all ports within the tsunami warning and advisory zones have been closed. This covers Japan’s Pacific coast from Ibaraki Prefecture north to Abashiri, covering affected areas of Honshu and Hokkaido. Port operations will remain suspended until the warnings and advisories are lifted.

Vessels have been directed to follow instructions from local authorities and port captains, while coastal access remains restricted, according to shipping agency Inchcape Shipping.

Meanwhile, bunker supply remains tight across Japan, as crude procurement constraints and Middle East tensions have pushed spot availability to near non-existent levels, with supply across all fuel grades now assessed strictly on a case-by-case basis, a source said.

By Tuhin Roy

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