A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck north-eastern Japan on Monday night, injuring dozens and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate as it disrupted power supplies, halted transport services, and triggered urgent tsunami warnings.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at 23:15 local time (14:15 GMT) at a depth of 50km, roughly 80km off the coast of Aomori. It generated waves of up to 70cm before tsunami alerts were later lifted.
Authorities confirmed at least 30 injuries, while nearly 2,700 households in Aomori were left without power. Rail services along the north-eastern coastline have also been suspended pending safety inspections.
Officials cautioned that strong aftershocks may follow in the coming days and advised residents to stay vigilant for at least a week.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged people in affected areas to review their emergency plans and secure household items, stating:
“Reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness and be ready to evacuate immediately if you feel shaking.”
Local authorities reported that approximately 90,000 people were instructed to evacuate. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said a government emergency task force has been activated to oversee rescue and relief operations.
Japan’s energy operator Tohoku Electric Power confirmed there were no abnormalities at the Higashidori or Onagawa nuclear plants. Authorities also reported no issues at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi site, which suffered catastrophic damage in the 2011 magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami.
Japan, located along the highly active Ring of Fire, experiences about 1,500 earthquakes annually. Experts have repeatedly warned about the growing likelihood of a massive quake in the Nankai Trough, estimating a 60–90% chancewithin the next 30 years an event that could cause trillions in damage and mass casualties.
