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At least 30 people have been injured after a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck north-eastern Japan on Monday night, prompting thousands of residents to evacuate as authorities issued tsunami warnings and activated emergency response systems.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at 23:15 local time (14:15 GMT) at a depth of 50km, approximately 80km off the coast of the Aomori region. Although tsunami alerts have since been lifted, the coastal area experienced waves as high as 70cm.
The tremor disrupted daily activities across the region. Thousands of homes were left without electricity, and several train services were suspended along the north-eastern coast. Local authorities cautioned that stronger aftershocks could occur in the coming days, urging residents to remain alert for at least a week.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the nation, encouraging affected communities to prioritise safety. “Reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness, such as ensuring that you secure furniture, and prepare to evacuate immediately if you feel shaking,” she advised.
Reuters reports that evacuation orders were issued for approximately 90,000 residents. The Aomori prefectural government confirmed that about 2,700 homes were without power following the quake.
In response, the Japanese government has set up an emergency office within the prime minister’s crisis management centre. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated that authorities are “making every effort to assess the damage and implement emergency disaster response measures, including rescue and relief operations.”
Tohoku Electric Power reported no abnormalities at the Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear power plants. Japanese authorities also confirmed to the International Atomic Energy Agency that no issues were detected at the Fukushima nuclear facility, which suffered severe damage during the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The 2011 quake, measuring 9.0 in magnitude, remains the strongest ever recorded in Japan and resulted in over 18,000 deaths, reshaping the nation’s approach to disaster preparedness.
