Japanese authorities lifted tsunami warnings on Tuesday after a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the country’s northeastern coast, injuring at least 30 people and forcing nearly 90,000 residents to evacuate.
The quake struck off Aomori prefecture at 11:15 p.m. local time on Monday, with its epicentre located 80 km offshore at a depth of 54 km, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The tremor registered an “upper 6” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in Hachinohe city – strong enough to make standing or walking impossible.
Tsunami Alerts and Evacuations
The JMA initially warned of waves up to 3 metres along the northeastern coast, issuing alerts for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures. Tsunamis between 20 and 70 cm were observed at several ports before warnings were downgraded to advisories and later lifted entirely.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed reports of 30 injuries and one fire but said there were no major damages. Thousands of households lost power immediately after the quake, though electricity was restored by Tuesday morning.
Transport and Safety Measures
East Japan Railway suspended some services in the affected region, while other train lines reported delays. No irregularities were detected at nuclear power plants operated by Tohoku Electric Power and Hokkaido Electric Power.
The JMA issued a one-week advisory warning residents from Hokkaido down to Chiba prefecture to remain alert for possible aftershocks or another powerful quake. “There is a possibility that further powerful and stronger earthquakes could occur over the next several days,” a JMA official cautioned.
Economic Impact
The yen briefly weakened against major currencies following the tremor, with the dollar and euro touching session highs.
Historical Context
Japan, located in the seismically active “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent earthquakes, accounting for about 20% of global quakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater. The northeastern region was devastated in March 2011 by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Drawing lessons from that tragedy, authorities now issue “megaquake” advisories for a week after significant tremors, aiming to prepare residents for potential aftershocks.
