Dozens of people were injured and tens of thousands evacuated after a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck north-eastern Japan on Monday night, disrupting power, transport and triggering urgent tsunami alerts.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake hit at 23:15 local time (14:15 GMT) at a depth of 50km, about 80km off the Aomori coast, sending waves of up to 70cm before tsunami warnings were lifted.
Authorities reported at least 30 injuries, while nearly 2,700 homes in Aomori were left without electricity. Train services along the north-eastern coast have been suspended as officials assess safety risks.
Government officials warned that strong aftershocks are likely in the coming days, urging residents to remain on high alert for at least a week.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged affected citizens to double-check emergency kits and secure furniture:
“Reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness and be ready to evacuate immediately if you feel shaking.”
Around 90,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, according to local officials. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kiharasaid a government emergency team has been activated to coordinate rescue and relief efforts.
Japan’s energy operator Tohoku Electric Power confirmed there were no abnormalities at the Higashidori or Onagawa nuclear plants. Authorities also reported no issues at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi site, which suffered catastrophic damage in the 2011 magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami.
Japan, located along the highly active Ring of Fire, experiences about 1,500 earthquakes annually. Experts have repeatedly warned about the growing likelihood of a massive quake in the Nankai Trough, estimating a 60–90% chancewithin the next 30 years an event that could cause trillions in damage and mass casualties.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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