Japan advises remote Japanese islands of potential tsunami after undersea earthquake
Japan's meteorological agency has issued a tsunami advisory this morning to remote islands south of Tokyo after an earthquake that may have been triggered by volcanic activity.
The offshore quake was not felt, and no damage or injuries have been reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a magnitude 5.9 quake hit off the Izu Islands and tsunami waves up to a metre above tide levels could occur on the coasts of the Izu and Ogasawara island chains.
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The US Geological Survey measured the quake's strength at 5.6 magnitude.
The agency predicted small swelling of waves along the southeastern Pacific coasts but said there is no danger from it.
The JMA said a tsunami of about 50 centimetres was detected in the Yaene district on Hachijo Island about 30 minutes after the quake.
Smaller tsunamis have been detected on three other islands — Kozushima, Miyakejima and Izu Oshima, the agency said.
The offshore quake occurred about 180 kilometres south of Hachijo island, which is about 300 kilometres south of Tokyo, the agency said.
Residents on Hachijo island said they did not feel the quake and only heard the tsunami advisory, Japan's NHK public television said.
Temporary housing, built for people who lost their homes during the January 1 earthquake, is surrounded by floodwaters after heavy rains pounded the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, on September 22. JIJI Press/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource
Fumihiko Imamura, a Tohoku University seismologist, said the tsunami is believed to be related to undersea volcanic activity.
He said a larger tsunami could arrive much later and urged coastal residents to keep their guards up while the advisory is in place.
About 21,500 people live on the islands in the Izu group and about 2500 on the Ogasawara Islands.
Japan sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the world's most earthquake and tsunami-prone countries.
Meanwhile, record rainfall brought deadly flooding and landslides to a coastal region of the nation still recovering from a devastating New Year's Day earthquake.
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Japan's weather agency issued its highest emergency warning for Ishikawa prefecture on Saturday, urging residents to take extreme precautions in what it said is the heaviest rainfall the region has ever experienced.
The torrential downpour caused 16 rivers in the area to breach their banks, according to public broadcaster NHK.
At least six people were killed, several are missing and tens of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate, NHK reported, citing local authorities.
The weather agency downgraded its warning level on Sunday, but asked residents to remain on high alert.
Reported with CNN, AP
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