Tsunami Headed For Fukushima In Japan After Huge 7.3-Magnitude Earthquake

 

Early this morning, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit Japan‘s northeastern prefecture of Fukushima. 

Now, residents are being told to evacuate immediately, as a tsunami is headed straight for the region. The tsunami has been reportedly been seen 20km off the coast of Fukushima.

Evacuation sirens have been turned off and are currently sounding, and Japan’s meteorological agency is urging residents to leave all coastal and riverside areas. 

#Breaking

Sirens sound in #Fukushima, #Japan

as #Tsunami approaches after 7.3 #Earthquake.

via @KURTgibiADAMpic.twitter.com/WDNR1bIsvi

— Tom Hall ? (@TomHall) November 21, 2016

They are also telling residents not to leave emergency evacuation zones, as the tsunami will reportedly hit repeatedly.

It’s estimated that the tsunami height will be approximately 3 metres, but it “could be higher”.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami warning for the coastal areas of Fukushima.The estimated height of tsunami is 3 meters.

— ???????? (@nhk_seikatsu) November 21, 2016

A ‘Tsunami Warning’ (immediate) has been issued for Fukushima, while surrounding coastal areas in north eastern and eastern Japan have been issued with a ‘Tsunami Advisory’, where they are predicting tsunami waves of up to 1 metre.

A short while ago, a 60cm tsunami was seen at Onahama Port in Fukushima, which is being shown on NHK World live video currently. 

A few smaller tsunami waves have already hit, so media are telling residents that the power will increase and the height will get larger and larger after these initial waves:

LIVE NOW: Tsunami waves now seen along Fukushima shore lines.

WATCH LIVE: ??https://t.co/awrxco46Zw pic.twitter.com/VtpNlOEOgt

— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 21, 2016

They are consistently seeing changes to the tide level in the area, which likely means the water will soon flood the coastal area:

The backwash is starting to calm down,which means a tsunami is about to push that water right into Japan shortly. #Tsunami #Japan

— Akemi Mokoto (@UnAmericanOtaku) November 21, 2016

NHK reporting water rushing from land out to sea, backwashing in advance of a 3m (or more) #tsunami, #Fukushima, #Japan.

— Jon Letman (@jonletman) November 21, 2016

In 2011, a tsunami caused by an earthquake completely destroyed the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. NHK has reported that currently, Tokyo Electric Power is currently checking the plant for damage. 

We will continually update information on this story. 

Source: NHK / Twitter.