Japan sees tiny tsunami following 6.7-quake

TOKYO, Nov 09 (AFP): Japan said Sunday evening tiny tsunami waves hit its northern Pacific coast after an offshore 6.7-magnitude earthquake.

The first tsunami hit Miyako, Iwate, at 5:37 pm (0837 GMT), but it was so small that the Japan Meteorological Agency said it could not measure its size. Two minutes later, a 10-centimetre (less than four inches) wave reached Ofunato, the JMA said.

The quake struck around 5:03 pm (0803 GMT) in waters off Iwate, prompting JMA to issue the advisory for a possible tsunami up to one metre (three feet) high. The US Geological Survey measured the quake as magnitude 6.8.

"A tsunami advisory has been issued" for the Iwate coast, the JMA said in a bulletin, warning that waves could approach at any moment. The original quake was followed aftershocks of between 5.3 and 6.3-magnitude, the JMA said.