TOKYO, Japan: A small tsunami hit Hachijojima Island, south of Tokyo, after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Izu Islands chain on Tuesday. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that 50 cm (20 inches) waves were observed about 45 minutes after the earthquake. An even smaller wave of 10 cm was recorded on nearby Miyakejima Island.
The earthquake, with a shallow depth of 11.7 kilometers, caused no immediate damage, and residents reported not feeling the tremor. While there were no significant impacts, the JMA issued a tsunami alert for the region and warned of potential changes to the ocean surface from Chiba to Okinawa.
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes due to its location on four major tectonic plates. While the nation is well-prepared for such events, a mega-quake with an estimated magnitude of 8-9 has a 70% chance of occurring in the next 30 years, threatening lives along the Pacific coastline.
