After a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the north-east part of the country, Japan has raised an unusual alarm that the probability of occurrence of a "monster" earthquake, which is magnitude 8.0 or above, is relatively higher for the next one week period compared to the normal rate. Although the first waves of the tsunami were measured at 80 cm and later alerts were withdrawn, evacuations took place along the coastline in the provinces of Iwate, Honshu, and Hokkaido. Up to this point, there have been no fatalities, but memories of the horrific 2011 tsunami have kept people on their toes.