Tokyo –
Japan was hit by a tsunami caused by an underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga. A number of fishing boats in Japan capsized, sank and drifted away.
As reported by the Japan Times, Sunday (16/1/2022) Japan’s Pacific coast was hit by waves as high as one meter on Sunday (16/1) morning local time following a massive underwater volcanic eruption in the South Pacific the previous day.
Twenty-two boats capsized, sank, or drifted off in Kochi Prefecture. Meanwhile, five boats capsized in Tokushima Prefecture and one in Mie Prefecture. Japan Airlines also canceled 27 flights at airports across the country due to the wave.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a warning tsunami for Iwate prefecture, Amami Island and Tokara in Kagoshima Prefecture. Waves as high as 3 meters were predicted to occur but were sent down as a notification. Then at 14.00 local time the warning was completely lifted.
Nearly 230,000 people in Japan were forced to move to higher ground because of the threat of a tsunami.
It is said that the waves that occur are not the same as ordinary tsunamis caused by earthquakes. The agency noted the waves may have occurred due to the sudden change in atmospheric pressure due to the eruption.
In Kominato district, Kagoshima island, Amami Oshima, sea level rose 1.2 meters on Saturday (15/1) at 23:55 local time. Meanwhile at a port in Kuji, Iwate, there was a sea level rise of 1.1 meters on Sunday (16/1) at 02:26 local time.
So far, there have been no reports of casualties due to the waves that occurred.
On Sunday (16/1) at 07.30 local time, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency issued evacuation orders for 229,200 people living in 108,700 households in eight prefectures: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Chiba, Tokushima, Kochi, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. The warning covers several areas that were hit by the tsunami in March 2011.
Watch the video ‘Seconds of Volcanic Eruption in the Sea in Tonga’:
(izt / dhn)
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