7.5 Quake Hits Japan, Tsunami Alert for Northern Coast
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Tokyo
- Apr 20, 2026
- 67
A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Japan at 1:23 pm (IST) on Monday, with its epicentre located about 100 km offshore at a depth of 10 km.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning of up to 3 metres for coastal areas of Iwate, Hokkaido and Aomori.
Initial waves of around 3 feet were recorded in Iwate, while Miyako and Hachinohe saw waves of up to 1.5 feet. Authorities warned that water levels in these regions are continuing to rise.
As a precaution, bullet train services were suspended, and evacuation efforts began in coastal areas. Residents have been advised to stay away from beaches and rivers and move immediately to higher ground. Around 1.7 lakh people across Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures have been ordered to evacuate.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents in vulnerable areas to relocate to safer places without delay, warning that conditions could change rapidly. The government has also set up an emergency task force to monitor the situation, with assessments of damage and casualties underway.
Rail services were disrupted following the quake. The Tohoku Shinkansen was temporarily halted between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori, while Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen services were also suspended. Local train services in Iwate were stopped, and some lines in Hokkaido were closed. However, operations at Shin-Chitose and Sendai airports remained unaffected.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, tsunami waves of 80 cm hit Kuji Port in Iwate, 40 cm in Miyako Port, and 30 cm at Hachinohe Port in Aomori. Smaller waves were recorded in parts of Hokkaido and Miyagi.
Power companies reported no abnormalities at nuclear facilities. Tokyo Electric Power Company confirmed normal operations at Fukushima Daiichi and Daini plants, with no rise in radiation levels. Tohoku Electric Power Company also reported no issues at its nuclear plants in Aomori and Miyagi.
Japan, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is among the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, experiencing around 1,500 quakes annually, most of them minor.