*** Japan issues tsunami warning after quake ***

[lenseman]

HONOLULU (CNN) -- A tsunami warning was issued Saturday for Japan and a broad area surrounding the Pacific Ocean after a major undersea earthquake east of the Kuril Islands, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Tsunami waves between one and two meters were possible at about 2 p.m. local time near Hokaido, Japan and other areas of Japan's northern island, according to another warning from the Japan Meteorology Agency.

The earthquake was measured at a massive 8.4 magnitude at 11:23 p.m. ET (0423 GMT), the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center bulletin said.

"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the bulletin said.

 

[davel]

update looks better

Fears over tsunami ease in Japan

Tsunami fears raised in Japan by a quake in the Pacific Ocean have eased after the first small wave washed on to the north-eastern coast.
The wave reached Kushiro on the coast of Hokkaido Island at 1452 (0552 GMT), about 90 minutes after the earthquake, Japanese monitors say.

But monitors warned people to take care as waves could still hit the region.

Warnings had gone out for the island's north-eastern coast, with a lesser warning for the island of Honshu.

Meteorologists had warned of a tsunami up to 1m (3ft) in height from 1400.

However, as the appointed time passed, most areas said there had been no visible changes to the sea level

BBC link here