TOKYO, Sept 24* — A small tsunami was recorded on the remote island of Hachijojima after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck near the Izu Islands. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami alert for the area, reporting waves of 50 centimeters (20 inches) hitting Hachijojima around 9 am local time, about 45 minutes after the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 11.7 kilometers (7 miles).

On nearby Miyakejima Island, a smaller wave of 10 centimeters was noted. Despite the tremor, many residents reported not feeling it, and there were no immediate reports of damage.

The JMA warned that slight ocean surface changes could be observed along Japan's Pacific coastline, from Chiba to Okinawa. Japan, located on four major tectonic plates, experiences around 1,500 earthquakes annually, mostly minor. However, there’s a 70% chance of a major earthquake (magnitude 8-9) occurring within the next 30 years, which could threaten up to 300,000 lives.

The 2011 9.0-magnitude quake caused a devastating tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster, resulting in around 18,500 casualties and marking Japan’s worst post-war catastrophe