TOKYO, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A strong Pacific earthquake Wednesday created two minor tsunamis that hit Japan's northern and eastern coasts, meteorologists said.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the first rush of water at 9:29 p.m. Wednesday was about 16 inches on the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. About 30 minutes later, an 8-inch surge reached shore further south at Nemuro, the Kyodo news agency reported.
Meteorologists said a tsunami of 20 inches was expected to hit wide areas of the Pacific coast of Honshu around midnight.
The walls of water were triggered by an earthquake measuring at least 8.1 on the Richter scale was recorded 240 miles near the Kuril Islands, north of Japan, the BBC said.
Radio and television stations began broadcasting non-stop warnings and calls for evacuation from coastal areas to higher ground.
The earthquake was not felt in Japan and there were no reports of damage or injuries.
Meteorologists said Russia's eastern coast was also expected to be battered by waves from the earthquake.
