Overview
- Japan’s Meteorological Agency and the USGS measured a magnitude-7.6 earthquake off Aomori/Hokkaido around 11:15 p.m. local time at roughly 50 km depth.
- Tsunami warnings cover Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, with advisories for Miyagi and Fukushima and forecast heights up to three metres.
- Initial waves of 30–50 cm were observed at several ports, including about 40 cm at Aomori’s Mutsu Ogawara and Hokkaido’s Urakawa and 50 cm at Kuji in Iwate.
- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous waves are possible within about 1,000 km of the epicentre, including parts of Russia, Guam and the Philippines.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi activated an emergency task force as evacuations, nuclear plant safety checks, train suspensions and reports of some injuries were confirmed, with authorities warning of aftershocks.