Powerful 7.5 quake hits northern Japan, injuring at least 30 and forcing 90,000 to evacuate

A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, injuring at least 30 people and triggering a tsunami along the Pacific coast, officials said. The late-night quake, which struck at 11:15 p.m. about 80 kilometres (50 miles) off Aomori prefecture , occurred 50 kilometres (30 miles) below the sea surface , prompting broad evacuation orders and warnings of possible aftershocks and an increased risk of a megaquake.

Residents described widespread panic as buildings shook violently for several seconds. “I’ve never experienced such a big shaking,” said Nobuo Yamada , a convenience store owner in Hachinohe . Household items toppled, glasses shattered, and several traffic accidents were reported as people rushed towards evacuation centres.

A tsunami measuring 70 centimetres (2 ft 4 in) was recorded at Kuji port in Iwate prefecture , with up to 50-centimetre waves hitting other coastal communities, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) . Initial alerts warned of waves up to 3 metres (10 feet) before being downgraded. All tsunami advisories were lifted by 6:20 a.m. Tuesday .

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said at least 30 people were injured , including one seriously, mostly due to falling objects. Several were hurt in a hotel in Hachinohe, while a man in Tohoku suffered minor injuries when his car plunged into a hole created by the tremor. Meanwhile, around 800 homes lost electricity , and Shinkansen bullet trains and some local lines were temporarily halted as a precaution.

Nuclear facilities in the region conducted immediate safety checks. At the Rokkasho fuel reprocessing plant , a minor spill of 450 litres (118 gallons) of water from a spent-fuel cooling area was reported, but the Nuclear Regulation Authority said levels remained within safe limits, posing no radiation risk.

Japan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” one of the world’s most seismically active regions. The country frequently experiences major quakes above magnitude 6 , similar to other high-risk regions such as Indonesia, Chile, the Philippines, Nepal, Turkey, Pakistan, and Alaska (USA) . The 2025 quake has renewed concerns due to its proximity to the area devastated by the 2011 magnitude 9.0 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami , which killed nearly 20,000 people.

The JMA warned of strong aftershocks in the coming days and noted a slight increase in the risk of a magnitude 8-level earthquake along the northeastern coast from Chiba to Hokkaido , urging residents in 182 municipalities to remain prepared.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government’s emergency task force was “ putting people’s lives first ,” urging citizens to stay alert and follow evacuation instructions. Monday’s quake, she said, is a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability and the need for constant preparedness.