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Last Updated: Wednesday, 15 November 2006, 20:53 GMT
Small tsunamis hit northern Japan
Small tsunami waves have hit northern Japan, according to the country's meteorological agency (JMA).

It said a 40cm (16 inches) wave hit Nemuro port in Hokkaido island. Another one of 20cm (8 inches) was recorded.

The JMA initially expected a tsunami of at least two metres (6.5 feet) high after an 8.1 magnitude earthquake shook the Kuril Islands, north of Japan.

Tsunami warnings for the area and for Russia's Pacific coast were later called off.

Island threat

The earthquake struck about 390km (240 miles) east of Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, at 2015 (1115 GMT), the JMA said.

Tsunami graphic

There have been no reports of injuries or damage following the earthquake.

The BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says in the past tsunamis have caused extensive damage in Japan but they were of a far greater magnitude than is being predicted.

Japan's precarious geological position makes it one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations.

As such, it has developed a sophisticated tsunami warning service, run by the JMA.

If an earthquake looks as if it has the potential to trigger a tsunami, the JMA issues an alert within three minutes of it being identified.

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