Japan weather agency withdraws erroneous 9.9-magnitude earthquake alert

Japan's Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) retracted a mistakenly issued alert warning of a 9.9-magnitude earthquake, hours after the erroneous notification triggered widespread concern and transport disruptions across the northern island of Hokkaido.

Following the initial alert, fourteen tram trains in Sapporo, the prefecture's capital, came to an abrupt halt as operators implemented emergency safety protocols. Service was resumed within minutes once authorities determined the warning was incorrect and posed no immediate threat to the travelling public.

The incident marks a rare occurrence of system error in Japan's sophisticated earthquake early-warning network, which has been refined through decades of technological advancement and is widely regarded as one of the world's most reliable. Officials at the JMA have initiated a review into the circumstances that led to the false alert.

Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent seismic activity. The country's early-warning system has proven instrumental in saving lives during genuine earthquakes by providing crucial seconds to minutes for people to take protective action before strong shaking arrives.