Powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake hits off Japan, tsunami warning issued

A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday, prompting authorities to warn residents to stay away from coastal areas amid fears of tsunami waves reaching up to 3 meters.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake originated in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 10 km. The highest waves were expected to hit the prefectures of Iwate, Aomori, and Hokkaido.

Authorities also issued a special advisory warning of an elevated risk of even stronger earthquakes, potentially reaching magnitude 8.0 or higher. The agency noted that the likelihood of a major quake is currently higher than usual.

Sanae Takaichi said an emergency task force had been set up and urged residents in affected areas to evacuate immediately.

Public broadcaster NHK aired visuals of ships leaving Hachinohe port as tsunami alerts flashed across screens. Bullet train services in northern Honshu were also suspended following the tremors, reported Kyodo News.

The quake registered an “upper 5” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, strong enough to make movement difficult and cause structural damage, particularly to older buildings.

Japan, located along the Ring of Fire, is among the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, accounting for around 20% of all earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or higher.

While there are currently no active nuclear plants in the affected regions, operators including Tohoku Electric Power said checks were underway at facilities such as the Onagawa nuclear power plant to assess any potential impact.