Small tsunami waves splash ashore on remote Japanese islands

Small tsunami waves splashed ashore on remote Japanese islands yesterday morning after an earthquake that may have been triggered by volcanic activity.

The offshore quake was not felt, and the tsunami advisory was lifted about three hours later. No damage or injuries were reported.

The Japan Meteorological Agency had advised that waves up to 1 meter above tide levels could occur on the coasts of the Izu and Ogasawara island chains after the magnitude 5.8 quake occurred off the Izu Islands. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake’s strength at 5.6 magnitude.

About 21,500 people live on the islands in the Izu group and about 2,500 on the Ogasawara Islands.

JMA said a tsunami of about 50 centimeters was detected in the Yaene district on Hachijo Island about 30 minutes after the quake. Smaller waves were detected on three other islands — Kozushima, Miyakejima and Izu Oshima.

The offshore quake occurred about 180 kilometers (south of Hachijo island, which is about 300 kilometers south of Tokyo.

Television footage showed waves splashing against a wharf on Hachijo island but no major swelling was seen.

Residents on Hachijo said they did not feel the quake and only heard the tsunami advisory, Japan’s NHK public television said.