M7.4 Japan Earthquake, BMKG Confirms No Tsunami Risk to Indonesia

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has confirmed that the magnitude 7.4 earthquake shaking northern Japan does not pose a risk of triggering a tsunami in Indonesian territories.

The earthquake’s epicentre was located at coordinates 39.92° N; 142.88° E at a depth of 10 km. Based on the epicentre’s position and hypocentre depth, this was a shallow earthquake caused by subduction activity between the Pacific and Okhotsk plates, featuring a thrust fault mechanism.

“The analysis by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) indicates that the earthquake does not have the potential to generate a tsunami in Indonesian territories,” stated Acting Director of Earthquakes and Tsunami at BMKG, Rahmat Triyono, in his remarks on Monday (20/4).

Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued early tsunami warnings for the central Pacific coast of Hokkaido, the Pacific coast of Aomori Prefecture, and Iwate Prefecture under alert status.

Subsequently, the eastern and western Pacific coasts of Hokkaido, the Sea of Japan coast in Aomori Prefecture, as well as Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures were placed under advisory status.

“Preliminary monitoring by BMKG through sea level sensors detected a tsunami of 60 cm in Miyako at 15:30 WIB,” said Rahmat.

Furthermore, Rahmat advised coastal communities in Indonesia to remain calm.

“BMKG will continue to monitor developments from this earthquake and promptly inform stakeholders, media, and the public,” he concluded.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake rocked northern Japan, accompanied by tsunami wave warnings, on Monday (20/4).

Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned of tsunami waves up to around three metres in several Japanese regions, cited from AFP.

The quake occurred around 16:53 local time in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The shaking was so strong that it rattled buildings in Tokyo, hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre.