• A powerful earthquake of 6.9 magnitude struck off the northern coast of Japan.
• The quake, occurring at 5:03 PM local time, prompted an initial tsunami advisory.
• The tsunami advisory was lifted three hours later, with observed waves peaking at 20 cm.
• No immediate reports of injuries or significant damage were recorded.
• Authorities warned of possible aftershocks for up to a week.

A strong earthquake measuring 6.9 in magnitude struck off the northern coast of Japan at 5:03 PM local time on Sunday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The epicenter was identified near Iwate Prefecture, occurring at a depth of approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles). In response, the JMA issued a tsunami advisory, predicting waves could reach up to 3 feet, though initial estimates suggested a potential height of up to 9 feet in certain areas. This advisory was subsequently lifted three hours later as wave heights observed were significantly lower than anticipated, peaking around 20 centimeters (8 inches) at some locations like Ofunato and Kuji, according to Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and India Times.

Despite the initial tremors and tsunami threat, there were no immediate reports of injuries or significant infrastructure damage, including any abnormalities at nearby nuclear power plants. As a precaution, authorities had warned residents to stay away from coastal regions and prepare for further seismic activity. Following this event, several aftershocks were recorded in Iwate Prefecture and nearby Hokkaido, underscoring the area's susceptibility to seismic activity, which has been highlighted by the JMA. The agency has noted that the region might experience strong quakes for approximately a week following the event, according to Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and India Times.