Powerful 6.8 Quake Off Japan’s Iwate Triggers Tsunami Advisory

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off Japan’s Iwate Prefecture on Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. 

The quake occurred at 08:03:37 UTC at a depth of 10 kilometers, with an epicenter about 126 kilometers east of the coastal town of Yamada, USGS said. 

A tsunami advisory was issued for the prefecture’s eastern coast, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. 

Authorities and local broadcasters warned residents to stay alert for changes in sea level and to keep away from shorelines while assessments were underway.