Japan and New Zealand were rocked by powerful tremors that struck within hours of each other on Tuesday, revisiting the nightmare of past earthquakes on frightened residents.
A 7.4-magnitude quake hit off the coast of Fukushima at 6am, generating tsunami waves and sending residents fleeing for higher ground before the all-clear was called four hours later.
Just three hours later, at 1.20pm New Zealand time, a 5.4 quake struck off the east coast of the lower North Island.
Fortunately there were no immediate reports of serious damage or injury in either country although nerves were rattled as friends and family took to social media expressing concern for their loved ones.
New Zealand was hit as it continues to recover from a 7.5-magnitude tremor on November 14 that damaged parts of the South Island and killed two people, and in the wake of the 2011 quake that flattened parts of Christchurch.
In Japan, the quake revived memories of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Fukushima in 2011, sparking a nuclear meltdown and killing 18,500.
Both Japan and New Zealand sit on the notoriously active seismic belt known as the Ring of Fire although experts say there was nothing more than coincidence at play.
"They are so far apart. It's not a case of one earthquake trigging the other one," senior seismologist Hugh Glanville told AAP.
Tuesday's tremors bring the number of severe earthquake events this year to 12, while Japan has now suffered nine major damaging quakes in the last six decades.
