Powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake strikes Japan, authorities issue tsunami warning

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake struck at a depth of 10 km in the Pacific Ocean. Tsunami waves of up to 3 metres were expected along parts of the coast, particularly in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said an emergency task force had been set up and appealed to residents in affected areas to evacuate to safer locations.

TSUNAMI ALERT, EVACUATION UNDERWAY

Public broadcaster NHK showed ships leaving Hachinohe port as a precaution, while emergency alerts flashed on screens urging people to evacuate immediately.

Authorities warned residents to stay away from coastal zones as waves were expected to reach shore.

BULLET TRAIN SERVICES SUSPENDED

Bullet train operations between Tokyo and Aomori were halted following the tremor, Kyodo news agency reported. The quake registered an “upper 5” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale — strong enough to make movement difficult and capable of causing structural damage, including the collapse of weak concrete walls.

POWER COMPANIES CHECK FACILITIES

Power utilities said they were assessing the impact of the quake. Tokyo Electric Power Company and Tohoku Electric Power said checks were underway at their facilities.

While there are no operational nuclear power plants in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, Tohoku Electric said it was inspecting the Onagawa nuclear power plant, which is currently shut down, for any impact from the quake and possible tsunami.

JAPAN’S HIGH SEISMIC RISK

Japan is among the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. It experiences frequent seismic activity and accounts for a significant share of global earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or higher.

Authorities continued to monitor the situation, with further updates expected as assessments of damage and tsunami impact progress.

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With inputs from Reuters