A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan on Monday night, injuring at least 30 people and prompting evacuation orders for approximately 90,000 residents.
The quake hit at 23:15 local time (14:15 GMT) at a depth of 50 kilometers, about 80 kilometers off the coast of Aomori region. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning, later lifted after waves of up to 70 centimeters were observed.
The tremor caused widespread disruptions: about 2,700 homes lost power, some train services were suspended, and authorities warned the public to remain on high alert for stronger aftershocks in the coming week.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged citizens to “reconfirm your daily earthquake preparedness,” while Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the government had activated its crisis management center and was making “every effort to assess the damage and implement emergency disaster response measures.”
Officials reported no abnormalities at nuclear power plants in the region, including the disabled Fukushima facility, which was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in March 2011. That disaster killed more than 18,000 people and remains a somber reference point for Japan’s ongoing vulnerability to seismic events.
By James Kisoo
