7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan's northern coast, triggering tsunami warning

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's northern coast, the US Geological Survey reported, prompting Tokyo to issue a tsunami warning and advise people to seek safety.

The earthquake was recorded at around 1415GMT and was measured at a depth of 53.1 kilometers (nearly 33 miles) off the coast of northern Aomori prefecture, said the USGS.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the intensity of the earthquake was higher than 6 on Japan's domestic measuring scale of 0 to 7.

The agency issued a tsunami warning for Aomori, Iwate, and Hokkaido prefectures, as well as a tsunami advisory for Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, and advised people to evacuate to safer areas.

Meanwhile, authorities have halted Tohoku Shinkansen train services in northeastern Japan due to the quake, Kyodo News.