A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake shook northern Japan late Monday night, triggering a tsunami and leaving over 23 people injured across coastal regions. The late-night tremor struck around 11:15 p.m. local time off the coast of Aomori, sending seismic waves across the Pacific shoreline. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported tsunami waves reaching up to 70 centimeters at Kuji port in Iwate, while other towns recorded waves near 50 centimeters. The quake struck about 80 kilometers off the northern tip of Honshu, causing widespread tremors that were captured in viral videos showing chandeliers, buildings and parked vehicles violently shaking.
Authorities moved quickly to assess damage as emergency advisories urged residents to evacuate coastal areas and move to higher ground. NHK confirmed that injuries were mainly caused by falling objects, with several guests hurt at a hotel in Hachinohe. In Tohoku, a man sustained minor injuries after his vehicle fell into a road cavity formed during the quake. Around 800 homes faced power outages, and bullet train Shinkansen services along with local rail lines were suspended as a safety precaution. The tsunami alert initially warned waves could reach up to three meters, but the threat level was later downgraded as the situation stabilized.
Nuclear facilities in the affected areas reported no major danger, although regulators confirmed nearly 450 liters of water spilled at the Rokkasho reprocessing plant’s spent-fuel cooling system. Officials assured that radiation levels remained normal and posed no public risk. To manage displacement, around 480 people sought shelter at Hachinohe Air Base while eighteen helicopters were deployed by the Defense Ministry for damage assessment. Meanwhile, 200 passengers remained stranded overnight at Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport due to halted transport services.
Japan, located along the volatile Pacific Ring of Fire, faces frequent seismic activity due to the interaction of major tectonic plates including the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian and North American plates. The region’s deep trenches, active volcano belts and subduction zones make earthquakes a persistent part of its geographical reality. Just months earlier in October, a 6.0 magnitude quake was recorded near Honshu with no casualties reported, highlighting the constant seismic tension in the region. Recent online footage shared by residents revealed fear and uncertainty, with many saying the tremor lasted over a minute. Emergency teams continue to monitor aftershocks and infrastructure while coastal communities recover from the sudden night disruption.
