A MEGA 6.5 magnitude earthquake has struck Hokkaido, Japan, only days after another quake threatened massive 10ft tsunami waves.
Japan’s weather agency issued its first-ever megaquake warning in the north of the country after Monday’s horrific magnitude 7.5 earthquake.
Today’s quake had a shallow depth of just 21 miles, meaning the effects were felt more strongly near the epicentre.
It is believed to have struck 75 miles away from Mutsu, Aomori, Japan.
Authorities believe an offshore megaquake could wreak havoc in the Hokkaido-Sanriku area causing a terrifying 98-foot tsunami and killing as many as 199,000.
The tidal wave could blast through 220,000 homes and buildings as well as triggering £150 billion costs in damages.
Officials have urged residents living near the Pacific coast to form escape plans in the event they need to flee their homes.
This major convulsion could occur along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido.
The quake warning covers roughly 800 miles from the northeastern coast of Chiba to Hokkaido – its the first megaquake advisory since the category was introduced in 2022.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has cautioned residents as Japan braces for disaster.
She told them to be prepared and ready to evacuate as soon as any tremors are felt.
After the earthquake on Monday, Takaichi said: “Due to this earthquake, the likelihood of a large earthquake occurring from Hokkaido to the Sanriku offshore region is now assessed to be higher than normal.
“Accordingly, the ‘Off the Coast of Hokkaido and Sanriku Subsequent Earthquake Advisory’ has been issued.”
The Prime Minister added: “Regardless of whether your area was affected by this earthquake, residents in regions where disaster-preparedness measures are advised should, over the next week or so, pay close attention to information from the Japan Meteorological Agency and local authorities.”
On Monday, the bombshell earthquake struck around 11:15pm in the ocean, approximately 50 miles off the coast of Aomori.
The Pacific quake injured at least 34 people and tsunami warnings were retrospectively put in place.
Daiki Shimohata, 33, a civil servant in Hashikami, said: “The tremor was something that we’ve never experienced. It lasted maybe for about 20 seconds.
“We were holding our children — a 2-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy — in our arms. The shaking reminded me of the disaster (in 2011).”
Huge waves of up to 70cm were sighted and reported to several coastal communities.
Officials have claimed the probability of a magnitude eight or larger earthquake is approximately one per cent.
But they hope the alert will serve as a reminder to those who have become too relaxed since the 2011 earthquakes that killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed a nuclear power plant.
The 2011 quake triggered Tsunamis that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima districts.
It peaked at a horrifying 50 feet in some districts and obliterated the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that sent many spiralling and fearing the radiation could linger.
After this weeks devastating tremors power plants across the area conducted urgent reviews as a precaution.
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