A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan late Monday, prompting evacuation orders for about 90,000 residents and tsunami warnings that were later downgraded to advisories, officials said. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially warned that waves as high as 3 meters could strike parts of the northeastern coast after the quake hit at 11:15 p.m. local time (2:15 p.m. Irish time).
Observed tsunami between 20 and 70 centimeters reached several ports, including along stretches of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures, the JMA said. Hours later, the agency lowered its alerts to advisories, signaling reduced estimated wave heights and a lower risk of coastal inundation, though officials urged continued caution along the shore.
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On Japan’s 1–7 seismic intensity scale, the tremor registered an “upper 6” in the city of Hachinohe, Aomori prefecture — strong enough to make it impossible to remain standing and capable of toppling heavy furniture. Public broadcaster NHK reported little information on major damage as of late afternoon Irish time, though local officials said several people were injured in Hachinohe.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, addressing reporters in Tokyo, said seven injuries had been confirmed so far. A JMA official warned that “further powerful and stronger earthquakes could occur over the next several days,” and the agency issued an advisory covering a wide stretch from Hokkaido down to Chiba prefecture east of Tokyo, calling on residents to be prepared for the possibility of another strong quake within a week.
Rail operators and utilities began safety checks across the region. East Japan Railway suspended some services for inspections. Tohoku Electric Power initially reported thousands of households without electricity but later revised that number to the hundreds, and both Tohoku Electric and Hokkaido Electric Power said no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities in the area.
The quake briefly rattled currency markets, with the yen weakening against major peers before steadying. Local authorities continued to urge residents in coastal communities to heed evacuation orders and keep clear of harbors and river mouths until tsunami advisories were lifted.
Japan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations, sitting on the seismically active Ring of Fire that arcs around the Pacific. The country accounts for about 20% of global earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater. The northeastern Tohoku region bore the brunt of Japan’s worst recorded earthquake on March 11, 2011, when a 9.0-magnitude undersea quake off Sendai triggered devastating tsunamis that killed nearly 20,000 people and led to explosions and meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Drawing lessons from 2011, when a magnitude-7-level quake struck two days before the catastrophe, the government now issues a one-week “megaquake” advisory whenever a significant temblor hits the region. A similar advisory was issued in August last year for the Nankai Trough area in central-southern Japan, reflecting heightened vigilance in a country accustomed to frequent seismic activity.
As aftershocks continue, authorities said they would keep monitoring coastal wave activity and seismic patterns, restore rail and power service as safety checks conclude, and provide updates through municipal alerts and broadcaster bulletins. Residents were urged to secure heavy furniture, prepare emergency supplies and follow local guidance in the event of additional strong shaking.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
