Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Strikes North-Eastern Japan Prompting Evacuations and Power Outages

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: EPA

A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck north-eastern Japan on Monday night, prompting mass evacuations and leaving thousands without power. The tremor occurred at 23:15 local time (14:15 GMT) at a depth of about 50 kilometers, approximately 80 kilometers off the coast of the Aomori region, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Initial tsunami warnings were issued and have since been lifted, though waves of up to 70 centimeters were recorded along the coastline.

The impact was immediate and widespread. Rail services along the northeastern coast were temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure, and power outages affected an estimated 2,700 households in the Aomori prefecture. Officials warned that aftershocks could continue in the coming days, urging residents to remain vigilant for at least a week. Local authorities revised evacuation orders as the situation developed, with roughly 90,000 residents instructed to evacuate their homes to safer locations.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed affected citizens, emphasizing the importance of preparedness. She urged families to reconfirm emergency plans, secure furniture, and be ready to evacuate promptly if shaking recurs. The national government established a response office within the prime minister’s crisis management center and activated an emergency task force to coordinate rescue and relief operations.

Energy and infrastructure agencies reported no irregularities at critical power facilities as a result of the quake. Tohoku Electric Power confirmed that the Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear plants had not detected anomalies, and authorities noted no issues at the Fukushima site, though monitoring remains ongoing given the proximity of the event to sensitive installations.

Japan’s location along the Ring of Fire makes it one of the most seismically active regions on Earth, with the nation experiencing roughly 1,500 earthquakes annually. Experts have long warned of the potential for a megaquake along the Nankai Trough, a seismic zone extending along the Pacific coast of Japan.

Projections over the next 30 years suggest a substantial risk of major events, with scenarios ranging from severe disruption to devastating losses in the event of a high-magnitude tremor. The current earthquake underscores the ongoing vulnerability and the critical importance of disaster preparedness across the country.

Emergency officials continue to assess structural damage, coordinate relief efforts, and monitor for aftershocks as communities begin the process of recovery.uth Africa, aiming to promote greater influence for emerging economies on the global stage. The leaders stated their intention to continue coordinating on foreign policy and defense related development, while expressing confidence in expanding economic and strategic ties in the years ahead.