WATCH: Powerful earthquake rocks Japan and triggers tsunami warnings
The tsunami warning was issued for the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, after the quake jolted a large part of Japan's north and east at 11:15 p.m. (1415 GMT).
A tsunami warning is displayed on a television in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, after a strong earthquake hits off Japanese northern coast, tsunami alert issued. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami warnings for Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate on Monday night after a powerful earthquake struck off the north-eastern coast. Videos posted online, including CCTV footage from shops and residential buildings, showed rooms shaking and items falling as the tremor hit.
The JMA said a tsunami up to three metres could reach parts of the north-east after the quake, which it estimated at magnitude 7.6. The tremor occurred at 11:15 p.m. with an epicentre about 80km off Aomori and at a depth of 50km.
🚨 BREAKING: Japan's JMA issues Hokkaido-Sanriku Megaquake Advisory after M7.6 quake off Aomori—up to M9 possible in next week! 118 municipalities urged to stock supplies & prep evacuation NOW. Tsunami warnings active. Stay safe, Japan! #JapanEarthquake#TsunamiAlertpic.twitter.com/nCepm6TVL4
Small tsunamis between 20cm and 70cm were recorded at several ports, the agency said.
Officials advised residents in coastal areas to move to higher ground or designated centres. About 90,000 people were told to evacuate, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Several fires were reported in Aomori.
In Hachinohe, CCTV images shared by local broadcasters showed shelves shaking violently as the quake struck. Satoshi Kato, a high-school vice-principal, told NHK that dishes fell and broke inside his home. He later drove to the school, which serves as an evacuation site, and said he saw traffic jams and minor accidents as people tried to leave.
Train operator East Japan Railway suspended some services in the region. Power outages were reported by Tohoku Electric Power, though nuclear plants in the area recorded no abnormalities.
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Japan, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, experiences frequent earthquakes, with many of the world’s magnitude-6 or greater quakes occurring there each year.
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A tsunami warning is displayed on a television in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, after a strong earthquake hits off Japanese northern coast, tsunami alert issued. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
