A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan late Monday night, causing injuries, minor damage, and a tsunami that affected coastal regions in the Pacific Ocean.
The quake occurred at 11:15 PM local time with an epicenter approximately 80 kilometers offshore near Aomori Prefecture at a depth of 44 kilometers. Tsunami waves up to 70 centimeters were recorded in Kuji port, Iwate Prefecture, while other coastal areas experienced waves as high as 50 centimeters.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated, “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can,” during emergency briefings. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported at least 34 injuries, with one person in serious condition, most caused by falling objects indoors.
Emergency services noted that approximately 800 homes lost power, and Shinkansen bullet trains were suspended in parts of the region. By Tuesday morning, power had been restored to most areas, though about 480 residents sought shelter at Hachinohe Air Base and 18 defense helicopters were deployed for damage assessment.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of potential aftershocks and a slight increase in the risk of a magnitude 8 earthquake. Smaller aftershocks, including those measuring 6.6 and 5.1 on the Richter scale, were recorded in the hours following the initial quake. Authorities confirmed no safety concerns had been raised at Japan’s Rokkasho fuel reprocessing plant after a reported spill of 450 liters of water.
