A magnitude 6.9 earthquake measuring 4 on Japan's seismic intensity scale struck off the coast of Iwate Prefecture on Sunday evening, triggering tsunami waves of 20 centimeters in some areas and prompting evacuation orders in some municipalities.

After the quake, which struck at 5:03 p.m., a tsunami advisory was issued for Iwate Prefecture, warning of the possibility of waves up to 1 meter. That advisory was called off shortly after 8 p.m. The quake was initially reported as magnitude 6.7, with the Japan Meteorological Agency later giving the revised figure.

A 20 cm tsunami was observed in Ofunato Port in Iwate at 6:25 p.m., while another 20 cm wave was seen in Kuji Port in Iwate at 5:52 p.m., according to the JMA.

The initial quake measured shindo 4 in the city of Morioka and the town of Yahaba in Iwate as well as in the town of Wakuya in neighboring Miyagi Prefecture. As of 8:30 p.m., 11 more quakes had hit the same area, including one measuring magnitude 6.3 and shindo 3.

There were no initial reports of injuries or damage following the quake.

East Japan Railway said the Tohoku Shinkansen briefly lost power and that operations were temporarily suspended between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations.

Tohoku Electric Power said no abnormalities were reported at its Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted a message on her X account asking people to move away from the coast and be on alert for aftershocks and tsunami waves that could hit the area.

A JMA official said at a news conference Sunday evening that earthquakes of similar or even stronger intensity could occur in the next few days.

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