Japan stays on alert for tsunami waves day after massive quake
One woman died while trying to move her car to higher ground
While all warnings were downgraded to advisories on Wednesday night, they remained in place for many areas, with the Japan Meteorological Agency to make an assessment on Thursday evening on whether to lift them.
The quake, which occurred at 8.24am Japan time, was measured at magnitude 8.8 by the US Geological Survey. At over 10 locations, tsunami waves as high as 70cm (27.5 inches) were observed on Thursday, a day after a 1.3-metre (4.3-foot) wave was observed at Kuji port in Iwate Prefecture.
The agency said on Thursday morning that tsunami waves of similar scale were expected to be observed in Japan for around a day, citing a comparable case in 1952.
It urged residents in areas where advisories were in place to stay away from the sea or coastline and warned the public to be careful when fishing or swimming in the sea, even in locations where the alerts had been lifted.
Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference that in relation to the issuance of tsunami warnings, one person died and 10 suffered injuries.