A powerful earthquake struck off northern Japan late on Monday, unleashing scenes of fear and confusion across several prefectures as buildings swayed, glass shattered and residents rushed into the freezing night. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) confirmed the quake at magnitude 7.5, revised from an initial 7.6, and said it lasted long enough to send smartphone alarms blaring across Hokkaido and Tohoku.Also read: 23 injured after magnitude 7.5 quake; tsunami warning lifted — what we know so far
Viral videos circulating online captured the moment the shaking hit. Footage from Hachinohe and Takizawa shows fishtanks sloshing violently, windows shattering and water flowing from upper floors “like a waterfall,” according to one shop owner. Another clip from Aomori Asahi Broadcasting’s Hachinohe branch office shows the newsroom jolted as the quake struck.Authorities reported at least 30 injuries across Aomori, Hokkaido and nearby regions, with several people hit by falling objects. One car plunged into a road crevasse, and a number of buildings sustained visible façade damage. A convenience store owner in Hachinohe told NHK, “I’ve never experienced such a big shaking,” relieved that power had not been cut in his neighbourhood.
Tsunami waves, power cuts and urgent evacuations
The quake triggered tsunami waves up to 70cm in Kuji Port in Iwate, with smaller waves recorded in Aomori and Hokkaido. Although initial warnings predicted waves as high as three metres, advisories were gradually lifted by early Tuesday morning. More than 28,000 residents were asked to evacuate, with some shelters quickly reaching capacity as temperatures hovered around freezing.In Aomori, about 2,700 homes lost power overnight, though most had electricity restored by morning. Bullet-train services on parts of the Tohoku Shinkansen line were suspended as engineers checked for damage. Around 200 passengers were stranded at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido.The government confirmed that nuclear facilities, including the Higashidori and Onagawa plants, reported no abnormalities. However, about 450 litres of water spilled from a spent-fuel cooling system at the Rokkasho reprocessing plant, though officials said there was no safety risk.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi activated an emergency task force, urging residents to stay alert. “Please be prepared to evacuate as soon as you feel a tremor,” she said.
Megaquake alert issued as aftershocks loom
The JMA issued an alert warning of an increased likelihood of a “megaquake” in the coming week, covering the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Chiba. Officials said the risk of a magnitude 8-level event has risen slightly, and residents in 182 municipalities should monitor updates closely.The warning comes as Japan remains acutely aware of its seismic vulnerability. The quake struck near the region devastated by the 2011 magnitude 9.0 disaster that killed nearly 18,500 people. “You need to prepare, assuming that a disaster like that could happen again,” JMA official Satoshi Harada said.
