Tsunami alert issued for Japan removed after earthquake strikes Philippines

Tsunami alerts issued for Japan’s Pacific coast have been removed after a large earthquake struck the Philippines today (Monday).

The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for both counties with initial tsunami advisories.

The Ibaraki to Okinawa prefectures in Japan were identified as being under potential threat but the advisory was later removed.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao in the southern Philippines at 7.37am local time, reportedly killing four people and injuring more than 200.

“Aftershocks are expected, and there may be damage to buildings and infrastructure in affected areas,” the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said.

Authorities in the country issued a tsunami threat and advised residents and visitors in affected coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground. 

The region has also been affected by a series of aftershocks.