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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fears over tsunami ease in Japan | Fears over tsunami ease in Japan |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tsunami fears raised in Japan by a quake in the Pacific Ocean have eased after the first small wave washed on to the north-eastern coast. | Tsunami fears raised in Japan by a quake in the Pacific Ocean have eased after the first small wave washed on to the north-eastern coast. |
| The wave reached Kushiro on the coast of Hokkaido Island at 1452 (0552 GMT), about 90 minutes after the earthquake, Japanese monitors say. | The wave reached Kushiro on the coast of Hokkaido Island at 1452 (0552 GMT), about 90 minutes after the earthquake, Japanese monitors say. |
| But monitors warned people to take care as waves could still hit the region. | |
| Warnings had gone out for the island's north-eastern coast, with a lesser warning for the island of Honshu. | Warnings had gone out for the island's north-eastern coast, with a lesser warning for the island of Honshu. |
| Meteorologists had warned of a tsunami up to 1m (3ft) in height from 1400. | Meteorologists had warned of a tsunami up to 1m (3ft) in height from 1400. |
| However, as the appointed time passed, most areas said there had been no visible changes to the sea level. | However, as the appointed time passed, most areas said there had been no visible changes to the sea level. |
| Evacuation | Evacuation |
| The earthquake happened at 1324 (0424 GMT), the meteorological agency said. | The earthquake happened at 1324 (0424 GMT), the meteorological agency said. |
| Officials in towns along Japan's Pacific coast issued evacuation orders to flee to higher ground, reports said. | Officials in towns along Japan's Pacific coast issued evacuation orders to flee to higher ground, reports said. |
| Estimates of the magnitude of the quake vary from 7.7 to 8.3. | Estimates of the magnitude of the quake vary from 7.7 to 8.3. |
| The US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for Russia, Japan and Markus Island in the Pacific Ocean. | The US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for Russia, Japan and Markus Island in the Pacific Ocean. |
| Hawaii, Taiwan and the Philippines were among a host of Pacific territories put on tsunami watch, a lower level of alert. | Hawaii, Taiwan and the Philippines were among a host of Pacific territories put on tsunami watch, a lower level of alert. |
| There was no confirmation that a tsunami was generated by the earthquake, the warning added. | There was no confirmation that a tsunami was generated by the earthquake, the warning added. |