At least 30 people were injured on Monday night after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck north-eastern Japan, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at 23:15 (14:15 GMT) at a depth of 50km (31 miles), around 80km off the coast of Aomori. Tsunami warnings were issued and later lifted, though waves of up to 70cm (27 inches) were observed along parts of the shoreline.
Transport disruptions followed, with some train services suspended and widespread power outages reported across the region.
Authorities have warned that a stronger aftershock could occur in the coming days, urging the public to remain on heightened alert for at least a week, local media said.
Addressing those affected, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged citizens to review safety plans: “Reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness, such as ensuring that you secure furniture, and prepare to evacuate immediately if you feel shaking.”
Reuters reported that evacuation orders were issued for roughly 90,000 people across the affected areas.
Regional officials in Aomori said around 2,700 households remained without electricity, while East Japan Railway halted several services along the north-eastern coast.
Chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said the government has established a response office inside the prime minister’s crisis management centre and convened an emergency team to coordinate relief operations.
“We are making every effort to assess the damage and implement emergency disaster response measures, including rescue and relief operations,” he said.
Tohoku Electric Power confirmed that no irregularities were detected at the Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear power plants following the quake.
Japanese authorities also informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that no issues were identified at the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant.
Fukushima previously suffered severe damage when a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off Japan’s eastern coast on 11 March 2011.
The 2011 disaster, the strongest quake ever recorded in the country, triggered a devastating tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and wiped out numerous coastal communities.
Japan remains among the world’s most earthquake-prone nations.
Situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country experiences around 1,500 earthquakes annually.
Earlier this year, Japan’s earthquake investigation panel warned of a 60–90% probability that a major quake will hit the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years, with worst-case estimates predicting trillions of dollars in damage and potentially hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Nankai Trough earthquakes — which occur along a vast seismic zone stretching across Japan’s Pacific coast — have historically resulted in widespread destruction and significant loss of life.
