Wave seen off Japan, agency says no tsunami detected

TOKYO: A large wave was spotted off Japan's coast on Monday by a helicopter, but the meteorological agency said it had detected no sign of a new tsunami or a major quake that would have triggered it.

Authorities had issued evacuation orders in some parts of the devastated coastline after the initial report and seawater was seen retreating off Iwate and Aomori prefectures a phenomenon that occurs before tsunamis.

Public broadcaster NHK had reported that the crew of a fire department helicopter had spotted a three metre or 10 foot high tsunami off Fukushima prefecture, saying it was expected to hit shortly after 0230 GMNT.