Expected giant waves did not materialize, Japan says

Expected giant waves did not materialize, Japan says

The danger of a destructive tsunami caused by a powerful earthquake off Taiwan has passed, an official of Japan's Meteorological Agency said Tuesday.

The agency warned earlier there was "a possibility of a destructive local tsunami" measuring one meter (3.3 feet) after an underwater quake measured at magnitude 7.1 by the U.S. Geological Survey hit south of Taiwan, the AP says.

"The expected waves did not materialize ... the danger has passed," said Hiroshi Koide of the agency's earthquake section.