Japan Hit by 3 Major Aftershocks on Wednesday

A man rides a bicycle past houses destroyed by the March 11 tsunami as snow falls in the city of Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture on March 16, 2011. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

Three aftershocks registering over 7.0-magnitude on Japan’s measurement scale hit the country’s battered northeast on Wednesday. The aftershocks occurred off the coast of Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki Prefectures.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (Met Office) reports that “compared to past [earthquake] cases, the activity of aftershocks is very high.”

JMA seismic intensity scale rates quakes on a scale of 1 to 7. A 7-magnitude quake is described as “very disastrous. Collapse of more than 30 percent of all houses, intense landslide, large fissures in the ground, and faults.”

The Met Office did not immediately issue a tsunami a advisory, but did ask citizens to remain vigilant and to “be cautious when a tsunami warning or advisory is issued.”

The office also warned evacuees to be careful and follow instructions from local emergency officers.

Based on the level of aftershock activity so far, Wednesday’s update from the Met office placed a 40 percent likelihood of more quakes with a maximum JMA Seismic Intensity of 5 or higher in the next 3 days. In the three days following, the office said there is a 20 percent chance.