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Minor tsunami waves reach Japan's coast after Chile quake

TOKYO — Minor tsunami waves of up to 40cm reached the northern and northeastern coast of Japan early this morning (Sept 18), a day after a powerful earthquake off the coast of central Chile, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

People keep watch from a hill in the northeastern Japan port city of Ishinomaki on Sept 18, 2015, as minor tsunami waves reached the northeastern coast of Japan following a major earthquake off the coast of central Chile. Photo: Kyodo News

People keep watch from a hill in the northeastern Japan port city of Ishinomaki on Sept 18, 2015, as minor tsunami waves reached the northeastern coast of Japan following a major earthquake off the coast of central Chile. Photo: Kyodo News

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TOKYO — Minor tsunami waves of up to 40cm reached the northern and northeastern coast of Japan early this morning (Sept 18), a day after a powerful earthquake off the coast of central Chile, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The agency earlier warned tsunami of up to 1m could arrive on eastern shores of Hokkaido in northern Japan at around 5am (4am, Singapore time) and Tohoku and Kanto coastal regions in eastern Japan at 5.30am to 6am.

A wave of 40cm was observed at Kuji port in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate and Erimo in Hokkaido. Those of 10-20cm reached other parts of northeastern and eastern Japan.

A wave could reach western Japan coastal regions later and the agency's warning still stands for wide coastal areas across the country, it said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

A tsunami advisory was issued at 3am for Pacific coastal regions from Hokkaido to Okinawa as well as the Sea of Japan coast in Aomori Prefecture.

The magnitude-8.3 quake struck off the coast of central Chile at around 8am yesterday Japan time, killing 10 people. It also triggered a tsunami warning for the entire country and caused a wave of around 4.5m in Coquimbo in central Chile.

Japan has experienced tsunami travelling across the Pacific after major quakes in Chile in the past. In May 1960, a tsunami of between 1 meter and 4m struck the coasts of Hokkaido and the Sanriku region more than 22 hours after a huge M9.5 quake occurred in Chile, leaving about 140 people dead or missing.

In 2010, a wave of 1.2m was observed at ports in Iwate and Kochi prefectures. Last year, a wave reached coastal regions from Hokkaido to Kanto, marking 60cm in Iwate Prefecture. KYODO NEWS

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