At least 30 people were injured after a powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northeastern Japan on Monday night, prompting mass evacuations and temporary tsunami warnings.
The quake occurred at 23:15 local time (14:15 GMT) at a depth of 50km (31 miles), roughly 80km off the coast of Aomori, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Tsunami warnings were issued and later lifted, though waves of up to 70cm (27in) were recorded.
Thousands of homes were left without electricity, and several train services were suspended as authorities assessed the damage. Officials also cautioned that strong aftershocks could occur in the coming days and advised residents to stay vigilant for at least a week.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged the public to prioritise safety. “Reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness, such as securing furniture, and be ready to evacuate immediately if you feel shaking,” she said.
Evacuation orders were issued for approximately 90,000 people, according to Reuters. The Aomori prefectural government reported that around 2,700 households were without power, while East Japan Railway suspended some routes along the northeastern coast.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the government had activated a crisis response office at the prime minister’s crisis management centre and convened an emergency team. “We are making every effort to assess the damage and implement emergency disaster response measures, including rescue and relief operations,” he said.
Tohoku Electric Power reported no abnormalities at its Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear power plants following the quake. Authorities also confirmed that the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant showed no signs of irregular activity, according to updates provided to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Fukushima was heavily damaged in the 11 March 2011 disaster, when a magnitude 9.0 earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and obliterated coastal towns.
Japan, located on the seismically active Ring of Fire, experiences around 1,500 earthquakes each year. Earlier this year, Japan’s earthquake investigation panel warned there is a 60–90% chance of a massive Nankai Trough earthquake within the next 30 years. In the worst-case scenario, such an event could cause trillions of dollars in damage and potentially result in hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Major quakes along the Nankai Trough—a volatile seismic zone stretching along Japan’s Pacific coastline—have historically caused widespread destruction and loss of life.
