A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, injuring 23 people and triggering a tsunami along several Pacific coast communities. Authorities warned of the risk of strong aftershocks and a possible larger quake in the coming days.
The earthquake occurred at around 11:15 p.m., about 80 kilometers off the coast of Aomori, Japan&rsquo;s northernmost prefecture on the main island of Honshu. Residents reported intense shaking, with some describing it as the strongest tremor they had ever experienced.
A tsunami measuring up to 70 centimeters hit Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, while waves of up to 50 centimeters were recorded in other coastal towns. Officials cautioned that earlier alerts predicting waves up to 3 meters had been downgraded but advised residents to remain vigilant.
According to disaster authorities, 23 people were injured &mdash; one seriously &mdash; mostly by falling objects. Several individuals were hurt at a hotel in Hachinohe, while a man in Tohoku sustained minor injuries after his car fell into a hole caused by the quake.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara urged residents to evacuate to higher ground or designated shelters until advisories were lifted. About 800 homes temporarily lost electricity, and bullet train services as well as some local rail lines were suspended.
Safety checks were underway at nuclear facilities in the region. At the Rokkasho reprocessing plant in Aomori, around 450 liters of water spilled from a spent fuel cooling area, though authorities said levels remained normal and posed no safety risk.
Nearly 480 residents sought shelter at the Hachinohe Air Base, where defense officials mobilized 18 helicopters to assess damage. At New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, around 200 passengers were stranded overnight due to disrupted transportation.
The meteorological agency warned of aftershocks in the coming days and noted a slightly increased risk of a magnitude 8 earthquake and possible tsunamis along the northeastern coast, from Chiba to Hokkaido. Residents in 182 municipalities were urged to review emergency preparedness.
In Hachinohe, a local high school designated as an evacuation center saw staff rushing to open facilities for potential evacuees. Roads were congested as panicked residents attempted to flee immediately after the tremors.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said an emergency task force had been set up to assess the situation. She urged citizens to &ldquo;stay alert&rdquo; and be ready for immediate evacuation if further tremors occur.
The quake struck near the region devastated by the 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people and caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Officials reiterated that such large events must always be considered possible.
By early Tuesday morning, all tsunami advisories for the Pacific coastline in northern Japan had been lifted.
Separately, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake was recorded early Tuesday south of Honcho. No damage reports were immediately available.

Car stranded on cracked road as workers assist

Powerful 7.5 quake strikes northern japan, 23 Injured as tsunami hits pacific coast

Japan Jolted by 7.5 Earthquake, Tsunami Alert

Powerful 7.5 quake strikes northern japan, 23 Injured as tsunami hits pacific coast

December 9, 2025 | 16:34 IST