Tokyo, Japan – A powerful earthquake, measured at a magnitude of 7.6, struck off the coast of northern Japan late on Monday, prompting immediate evacuation orders and a formal tsunami warning.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially cautioned that waves of up to three metres could impact coastal areas, specifically naming Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures as being highly vulnerable. The seismic activity, with its epicentre located off the coast of Aomori, triggered a widespread public safety response, though the largest observed wave was later confirmed to be 70 centimetres at Kuji port in Iwate.

Authorities subsequently downgraded the warning to an advisory and ultimately lifted it, but the event caused significant disruption, including the temporary suspension of the Shinkansen bullet train service and power outages affecting hundreds of homes. Officials confirmed that more than 30 individuals sustained minor injuries, predominantly from falling debris. Following the temblor, the JMA issued a rare and heightened caution regarding the increased potential for further, possibly stronger, seismic activity in the coming days, urging residents to remain vigilant and review their emergency preparedness protocols. Safety checks conducted at regional nuclear power facilities reported no significant irregularities.