Japan PM briefs on earthquake

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan. 

Following the tremor, Prime Minister Takaichi held a briefing and confirmed that the government immediately enacted emergency response measures. She instructed relevant ministries to prioritize saving human lives, rapidly assess local damages in coordination with local governments, and keep the public updated with timely evacuation and safety information.

The Prime Minister assured the public that there is no risk of a tsunami resulting from this marine earthquake. An information contact office and an emergency gathering team consisting of director-general-level officials were established at the Prime Minister's Office Crisis Management Center to lead the disaster response.