Quake measuring 6.8 causes small tsunami on Japan's northeastern shores
6.8 magnitude tremor near site of 2011 quake that triggered tsunami - and more on the way
Seismologists said an earthquake that struck near Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant yesterday was an aftershock of the quake that sparked 2011's deadly tsunami along the country's northeast coast, and warned of more to come.
The strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake off the Pacific coast caused a minor tsunami in the early hours yesterday, though authorities lifted all weather warnings two hours later.
Seismologist Yasuhiro Yoshida of the Japan Meteorological Agency said it was a delayed tectonic reaction to the 9.0-magnitude quake that caused reactors to melt down at the Fukushima plant after huge tsunami waves devastated the area in March 2011.
"There are fears that relatively large earthquakes will occasionally occur in the ocean area where aftershocks of the great earthquake continue," he said. "The aftershock activity has been steadily declining on a long-term basis. But aftershocks, accompanied by tsunami, will still occur."
The 2011 disaster killed more than 18,000 people.
