Tsunami warning issued for Japan and Russia
Atlasov Island, part of the Kuril Islands near where the earthquake struck
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Wednesday, 15, Nov 2006 12:56
A tsunami warning has been issued for Japan and Russia following an earthquake of 8.1 magnitude striking roughly 400km east of the Russian Kuril Islands.
Japan's meteorological agency said that a tsunami could hit Hokkaido and Honshu islands in northern Japan at a height of two metres.
Residents have been urged to move to higher ground.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre announced that a tsunami watch is also in place for North Marianas, Guam, Marshall Island, Taiwan, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap, the Philippines, Kosrae, Belau, Johnstone Island, Hawaii, Indonesia, Kiribati, Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
"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 near the epicentre within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the centre said.
Sea level data from gauges near the earthquake will be analysed to determine whether a tsunami was generated and how great the threat is.
Concerns about tsunamis remain high in the Far East and Indonesia following the 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast in Indonesia on Boxing Day 2004 which caused a tsunami that killed at least 220,000 people in countries across south-east Asia.