A powerful magnitude-7.6 earthquake has struck off Japan's northeastern coast, triggering a tsunami warning that could impact a significant portion of the country's coastline. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) confirmed the earthquake's epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 80 kilometers offshore from Aomori Prefecture, at 11:15 p.m. local time on Monday. The tremor occurred at a depth of around 50 kilometers, and the JMA issued a warning for a potential tsunami reaching up to 3 meters in height along certain coastal areas.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center further advised that waves could be expected within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter, affecting regions including Russia, Guam, and the Philippines. By midnight, a tsunami of 40 centimeters was observed at Aomori's Mutsu Ogawara and Hokkaido's Urakawa ports, while smaller tsunamis between 20 and 50 centimeters were recorded at various other port locations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assured the public that the government had established an emergency task force to promptly assess the damage. She emphasized their commitment to prioritizing people's safety. Government spokesman Minoru Kihara instructed residents to remain in safe areas until the warning was lifted, cautioning that subsequent waves could be even more destructive.
According to public broadcaster NHK, several injuries were reported at a hotel in Hachinohe, Aomori. Tohoku Electric, which operates a nuclear power plant in the affected region, confirmed that thousands of people were without power but assured no irregularities had been detected at their facility. Hokkaido Electric also stated that their nuclear power plant remained unaffected.
The tsunami warning covers the central Pacific Coast of Hokkaido, the Pacific Coast of Aomori Prefecture, and Iwate Prefecture. Additionally, a tsunami advisory is in effect for the eastern and western Pacific Coasts of Hokkaido, as well as the Japan Sea Coast of Aomori Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, and Fukushima Prefecture. Japan's vulnerability to earthquakes is well-known, with tremors occurring at least every five minutes, and the country accounts for approximately 20% of the world's earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or higher.
