AOMORI — A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Japan late Monday night, sending tremors across the region and triggering urgent tsunami warnings for coastal residents.
Immediate Impact and Evacuations
The quake, which struck at approximately 11:15 p.m. local time, was centered off the coast of Aomori Prefecture. The violent shaking prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a tsunami warning, projecting waves of up to 3 meters (10 feet).
Thousands of residents in Aomori, Iwate, and Hokkaido were urged to evacuate immediately to higher ground. While the warning was eventually downgraded to an advisory and lifted by Tuesday morning, the urgency of the initial alert caused widespread panic. Traffic jams were reported in Hachinohe as residents fled coastal areas in the middle of the night.
Damages and the “Japan Earthwake” Aftermath
Visuals from the affected areas paint a chaotic picture of the moment the japan earthwake struck. Security footage from convenience stores showed shelves shaking violently, sending products crashing to the floor.
In Aomori, local authorities reported that at least one house was engulfed in flames following the tremor. Firefighters worked through the night to control the blaze.
Injuries and Infrastructure
At least 23 people have been reported injured, primarily due to falling objects and shattered glass. Fortunately, no fatalities have been confirmed. The quake caused significant disruption to infrastructure, with approximately 2,700 households losing power. Shinkansen (bullet train) services in the region were temporarily suspended to allow for emergency safety inspections.
Small tsunami waves of up to 70 centimeters (28 inches) were observed at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture, though major flooding was avoided. Nuclear power plants in the region, including the Fukushima facility, reported no abnormalities, though treated water release operations were halted as a precaution.
Authorities continue to warn residents to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks in the coming days.