Japan issues tsunami warning after strong earthquake, urging coastal evacuations.
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan, shaking buildings in Tokyo and prompting tsunami warnings with waves potentially reaching 3 meters. A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on Monday, causing massive buildings to shake in the capital, Tokyo, despite being hundreds of kilometers away, as tsunami warnings were issued that could reach heights of three meters. The earthquake struck at 4:53 p.m. (07:53 GMT) in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. About 40 minutes after the earthquake, an 80-centimeter tsunami hit a port in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, according to the agency, which had initially estimated the earthquake's magnitude at 7.4 before later revising it to 7.5. The agency urged residents to leave coastal areas and riverbanks, and head immediately to higher ground or shelters, warning of potential damage that could result from tsunami waves. In a subsequent statement, it warned of a high probability of another earthquake that could reach magnitude 8 or higher, noting that "the probability of another major earthquake is higher than usual." She stressed that tsunami waves could recur, urging residents not to leave safe areas until warnings are officially lifted. In the same context, footage broadcast by the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) did not show any apparent damage in the vicinity of several ports in Iwate Prefecture. During a televised press conference, a meteorological official warned of the possibility of additional earthquakes during the next week, particularly in the next two or three days, which could lead to stronger earthquakes. The Japanese government announced the formation of a specialized team to manage the crisis and monitor developments in the situation. Tsunami warning issued after 30 people injured in 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan
Japan lies on the seismic "Ring of Fire".
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters that authorities are asking residents of the areas covered by the warnings to evacuate and move to higher, safer areas, stressing that the government is monitoring the situation to ensure there are no injuries or material damage. Japan lies on four major tectonic plates within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making it one of the world's most seismically active countries. This country, which has about 125 million inhabitants, experiences about 1,500 earthquakes annually, most of them minor, but their impact varies depending on their location and depth. In 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake triggered tsunamis that killed or left missing about 18,500 people and caused a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant. In 2024, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its first warning of a possible massive earthquake in the Nankai Trench, an ocean trench that stretches for about 800 kilometers, where the Philippine Sea Plate slides beneath the continental plate on which Japan lies. The government at the time warned that an earthquake in this rift, followed by a tsunami, could result in up to 298,000 deaths and economic losses of up to $2 trillion. Although the warning was lifted after a week, it caused an increase in demand for basic commodities such as rice, and led to the cancellation of many domestic travel bookings. In December 2025, the agency issued a new week-long "super-earthquake" warning, following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck Japan's northern coast. The earthquake of December 8, 2025, caused tsunami waves that reached a height of 70 centimeters, injuring more than 40 people, without any major damage being recorded.
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