A 30cm tsunami reached Yonaguni Island at 9.18am, JMA said, referring to Japan’s westernmost inhabited island, which is significantly closer to Taiwan than to Okinawa’s main island.
Flights were suspended at Naha airport, the main airport in Japan’s southern region of Okinawa, from 9.25am local time as a precautionary measure, said a transport ministry official stationed at the airport, adding that incoming flights will be diverted.
The Philippines warned of “high tsunami waves” and called for the evacuation of coastal areas.
“The people in the coastal areas of the following provinces are strongly advised to immediately evacuate to higher grounds or move farther inland,” the state seismology institute said in an advisory for 23 provinces where it said “high tsunami waves” were expected to hit.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake’s epicentre was 18km south of Taiwan’s Hualien City at a depth of 34.8km.
The strong quake knocked out power in several parts of the city, according to a Reuters witness.
“The earthquake may trigger a tsunami that will affect Taiwan. A tsunami warning is issued to remind people in coastal areas to be vigilant,” said an emergency message issued by authorities.
Source: CNA
