WORLD NEWS
TOKYO: Japan withdrew its tsunami warnings early Tuesday, several hours after a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the country’s northeastern coastline, injuring dozens and forcing close to 90,000 people to flee their homes.
The late-night quake sent tremors across wide areas, knocked out power in some regions, and triggered fears of a possible “mega-quake” later in the week.
Authorities had initially cautioned that waves up to three metres could strike coastal areas of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate. While ports recorded smaller waves—ranging from 20 to 70 centimetres—no major damage caused by the tsunami was reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) downgraded these warnings to advisories early Tuesday before fully lifting them. Even so, officials stressed that the danger is not over.
“A strong aftershock could hit at any time over the next week,” a JMA representative warned.
The earthquake hit at 11:15 p.m. on Monday, with its epicentre about 80 kilometres off Aomori’s coast at a depth of 54 kilometres. Hachinohe city recorded an “upper 6” on Japan’s 1–7 seismic scale—an intensity that makes it extremely difficult to remain standing.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that at least 30 people had been injured, and a fire had broken out in the aftermath of the tremor.
Rail services in parts of northern Japan were halted by East Japan Railway, while other lines experienced minor delays. Tens of thousands of homes also experienced temporary blackouts before power was restored early Tuesday.
Officials from Tohoku Electric Power and Hokkaido Electric Power reported no abnormalities at their nuclear plants, easing fears of any repeat of past nuclear crises.
Japan continues to implement strict safety protocols introduced after the catastrophic 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Under these rules, the government issues a one-week advisory for the potential of a major quake whenever a strong seismic event occurs in the region.
The 2011 disaster, which triggered enormous tsunami waves and caused meltdowns at Fukushima Daiichi, claimed nearly 20,000 lives and remains one of the worst natural catastrophes in modern Japanese history.
Financial markets saw brief volatility following Monday’s quake. The yen slipped against major currencies, while the U.S. dollar and the euro touched their session highs shortly after the announcement.
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