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Satellite image of an underwater volcano erupting off Tonga
Photo: HANDOUT/AFP
After a volcanic eruption in the island nation of Tonga, tsunami waves have reached Japan.
A 1.2 meter high tidal wave was recorded on the remote island of Amami Oshima in the south of the country late on Saturday evening, the Japanese weather service said.
Smaller tidal waves were also registered at several locations along the Pacific coast.
The weather service issued a warning of waves up to three meters high.
In a special broadcast by the NHK television station, residents of the affected coastal areas were called on to seek refuge in higher-lying areas.
The volcanic eruption in the island state of Tonga in the South Pacific triggered a tsunami there on Saturday.
A 1.2 meter high tsunami wave was observed in the capital Nuku'alofa.
After the volcanic eruption, tsunami warnings were also issued for the west coast of the USA and Hawaii, as well as Chile, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand and Australia.
bbr/AFP