Japan's meteorological agency says an incoming tsunami will be at least 6 1/2 feet high and Pacific coast residents should flee to higher ground. The warning follows an earthquake north of Japan with a preliminary magnitude of 8.1.
THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE PACIFIC BASIN EXCEPT
ALASKA - BRITISH COLUMBIA - WASHINGTON - OREGON - CALIFORNIA.
... A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT ...
A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR
RUSSIA / JAPAN
FOR ALL OTHER PACIFIC AREAS, THIS MESSAGE IS AN ADVISORY ONLY.
AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS
ORIGIN TIME - 1114Z 15 NOV 2006
COORDINATES - 46.7 NORTH 153.5 EAST
LOCATION - KURIL ISLANDS
MAGNITUDE - 7.7
EVALUATION
IT IS NOT KNOWN THAT A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. THIS WARNING IS BASED ONLY ON THE EARTHQUAKE EVALUATION. AN EARTHQUAKE OF THIS SIZE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THAT CAN STRIKE COASTLINES IN THE REGION NEAR THE EPICENTER WITHIN MINUTES TO HOURS.
TOKYO (AP) - A small tsunami hit northern Japan, estimated at 16 inches tall, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.
The wave hit Nemuro port in Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido at 9:29 p.m. and was smaller than the 6 1/2 feet tall or higher initially expected by the agency.
Live water footage from northern Japan showed calm seas and lighted windows. Residents said they barely felt the quake.
The agency, however, warned larger waves could follow.
