An earthquake believed to be caused by volcanic activity struck a remote Japanese island on Tuesday morning, triggering a small tsunami.
The quake was not felt offshore and the tsunami warning was lifted about three hours later. No damage or injuries were reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that waves up to one metre higher than tide levels could occur along the coasts of the Izu and Ogasawara islands after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off the coast of the Izu Islands. The United States Geological Survey measured the strength of the quake at magnitude 5.6.
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Approximately 21,500 people live in the Izu Islands and approximately 2,500 people live in the Ogasawara Islands.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami of about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) was observed in the Yaene area of ​​Hachijojima about 30 minutes after the quake. Smaller tsunamis were observed on the three islands of Kozushima, Miyakejima and Izu Oshima.
The offshore earthquake occurred about 180 kilometers south of Hachijojima, which is about 300 kilometers south of Tokyo.
According to NHK, residents of Hachijojima did not feel the earthquake, but only heard a tsunami warning.
Fumihiko Imamura, a seismologist at Tohoku University, said the tsunami was believed to be related to undersea volcanic activity, and urged coastal residents to remain vigilant while the advisory remains in effect.
Japan is located on the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, an earthquake fault zone that surrounds the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the countries in the world most prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.
