A preliminary magnitude-6.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori prefecture in northeast Japan on Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, prompting a tsunami advisory for nearby coastal areas.
The JMA recorded the temblor at 11:44 a.m. local time (02:44 GMT) at a depth of about 20 km (12.4 miles). The agency issued the advisory to warn residents and coastal communities to be cautious of possible tsunami waves and to monitor official updates.
The quake comes days after a larger magnitude-7.5 earthquake affected the same region. Following that event, the government warned people across a wide swath of the country—from Hokkaido in the north down to Chiba, east of Tokyo—to remain on alert for an increased chance of another strong earthquake within a week.
There are no confirmed reports of casualties or significant damage in the immediate aftermath; authorities and monitoring agencies continue to assess the situation. Residents in affected areas are advised to follow local emergency guidance and stay tuned to official JMA and government announcements for further information.