Table indicating the escape route in the case of tsunamis. (Getty stock photo)
(TOKYO) — A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck on Monday off Japan’s northeastern coast, the U.S. Geological Survey said, prompting authorities to issue tsunami warnings and advisories along parts of the coast.
“Based on the preliminary earthquake parameters,” USGS said, “hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 300 km of the earthquake epicenter.”
The Japan Meteorological Agency said tsunami warnings were in place for some of the coast along the Pacific, along with lesser advisories and forecasts farther away from the quake’s center.
“Residents in areas where tsunami warnings have been issued should immediately evacuate to higher ground or evacuation buildings and other higher, safer locations,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
The tsunami waves that were expected to have been the highest struck the coast within hours, with the largest one registering about 80 cm, or about 2.5 feet, but officials said they had not ruled out further waves. Official warnings were still in place, although the U.S. weather officials said in an update that, based on available data, “the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed.”
Preliminary U.S. data pinpointed the quake about 100 km, or about 62 miles, off the eastern coast of Miyako, USGS said. Light rumbling could be felt as far away as Tokyo. A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck nearby about 40 minutes afterward, according to USGS data.
The Japanese agency held a press conference on Monday, during which it identified the quake as having been a 7.5 magnitude one. The depth was 10 km, or about 6.2 miles. It occurred at 4:53 p.m. local time, the agency said.
A tsunami warning was issued under twenty seconds after the initial earthquake, an official said. Officials warned people to stay on the alert for about week, as an equal or lesser than quake may occur. The risk was especially elevated for the next two or three days, officials said.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said a “destructive” Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected “and there is no threat to Hawaii.”
The animated movie, the sequel to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, topped the box office for a third straight week, taking in an additional $35 million, according to Box Office Mojo. It’s already the year’s highest grossing film in the U.S., with a total gross of over $355 million.
Project Hail Mary hung on to the #2 spot for the second week, taking in $20.5 million. A new release this week, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, came in at #3 with $13.5 million.
The Drama and You, Me & Tuscany rounded out the top 5 with $4.8 million and $3.8 million, respectively.
Here are the top 10 films at the box office:
1. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – $35 million 2. Project Hail Mary – $20.5 million 3. Lee Cronin’s The Mummy – $13.5 million 4. The Drama – $4.8 million 5. You, Me & Tuscany – $3.8 million 6. Hoppers – $2.9 million 7. Normal – $2.65 million 8. BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ in JAPAN: LIVE VIEWING – $1.8 million 9. Busboys – $1.65 million 10. Bhooth Bangla – $950,000
(NEW YORK) — The severe weather threat is expected to ramp down this weekend after one more day of possible severe storms.
There is a slight risk for severe storms in Ohio, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania and western New York. This includes Buffalo, New York; Cleveland; Pittsburgh; and Charleston, West Virginia.
Damaging winds and some large hail will be the main threat, but a tornado and some isolated flash flooding cannot be ruled out.
Remnant showers and storms moved along a cold front sweeping the Ohio Valley Saturday morning before rejuvenating later in the afternoon.
The level of severity of these storms will be determined by how the atmosphere recovers after preceding rain moving through Saturday morning, but enough energy could build up by late Saturday afternoon for some severe storms to develop over the area. Otherwise, it may just end up being added rain with possibly some rumbles of thunder.
This cold front will continue to push east into the Northeast on Sunday, bringing rain, and some high elevation snow, to the region before pushing off the coast.
Ahead of this cold front, the Southeast has had another day or record heat while the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic begin to cool down.
Saturday could see one more day of record highs across much of the South from Louisiana to Florida to Georgia.
The National Weather Service confirmed at least 35 tornadoes across 10 states this week, stretching from California to Vermont.
Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois have been hit the hardest by multiple outbreaks of severe weather over the week.
Friday was no exception to this active week of severe weather, with more than 300 reports of severe weather from Oklahoma up to Minnesota and east to Indiana.
Wind gusts over 75 mph were also reported in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. Hail larger than baseballs were reported in Illinois and Oklahoma. Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin reported hail greater than golf balls.
In addition, flooding continues to linger for parts of Wisconsin and Michigan from days of rain and, in some areas, on top of a deep snowpack that’s accelerated snowmelt. Fortunately, they have drier weather in the forecast for this weekend into next week.
The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — Pope Leo addressed President Donald Trump on Saturday while aboard the papal plane on his trip to Angola.
The pope said recent remarks that appeared to address the U.S. president were prepared two weeks ago, before Trump had commented on him.
“Yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate, again, the president, which is not my interest at all,” he said.
