7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Northern Japan, Tsunami Warning Issued – Risk of Major Aftershock Remains

Tokyo: A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 (revised up to 7.5–7.7 by some agencies) struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday afternoon, triggering tsunami warnings and urgent evacuation orders for coastal areas.
The quake hit at approximately 4:53 p.m. local time (around 07:53 GMT), with its epicenter located about 60–70 miles (100 km) east-northeast of Miyako in Iwate Prefecture, at a shallow depth of roughly 10–19 km, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Tsunami warnings were immediately issued for the Pacific coastal areas of Iwate, Aomori, and parts of Hokkaido prefectures. Authorities warned of possible tsunami waves up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) high. Smaller tsunami waves of 20–80 cm have already been observed at several ports, including Miyako, Hachinohe, and Kuji.
Residents in affected coastal regions have been urged to evacuate immediately to higher ground. Bullet train (Shinkansen) services were suspended, and emergency checks are underway for infrastructure.
Following the main quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a special advisory, stating that the likelihood of a new, huge earthquake (magnitude 8 or stronger) occurring is relatively higher than normal in the coming days.b9cd3a
No immediate reports of major casualties or widespread damage have been confirmed, though aftershocks continue. The situation is developing rapidly.