Tsunami Warning - Japan and Russia

A tsunami is expected to hit northern Japan and Russia's Pacific coast, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says.

UPDATE (13.40 GMT): A 40 cm / 16 inch tsunami wave has hit Hokkaido Island in Japan.

Japan's meteorological agency says a tsunami of at least two metres (6.5 feet) high could hit the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu. Warnings are being broadcast on all Japanese TV and radio stations advising people to move to higher ground.

It comes after an earthquake of at least 8.1 magnitude rocked the Kuril Islands, north of Japan. The earthquake struck about 390km (240 miles) east of Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, at 2015 (1115 GMT), Japan's meteorological agency said. Other smaller waves may batter the Pacific coast of Japan, the agency said. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami warning also applied to Marcus island, Wake island and Midway island.

There have been no reports of injuries or damage following the earthquake, while live television pictures from Nemuro, a port on Hokkaido, show calm waters. 

The BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says in the past tsunamis have caused extensive damage in Japan but they were of a far greater magnitude than is being predicted.

Tag: tsunami