Millions of residents in Japan received a warning on Friday when their smartphone screens lit up and alarms sounded with a message: an imminent 9.9 magnitude earthquake. The alert, which urged citizens to seek shelter, was revoked by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) within minutes.
Chronology of the Warning
The JMA initially announced that a 9.9 magnitude tremor had occurred near the Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Chishima Islands. This triggered emergency alerts on millions of mobile phones. Shortly after, the agency clarified that the actual seismic event was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake located near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, at a depth of 160 kilometers.
Impact and Official Response
While the false alarm did not lead to widespread panic, it did cause temporary disruptions to public transportation. JMA official Shinya Tsukada issued a formal apology, expressing regret for the "significant inconvenience and concern caused to the public."
