A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Monday evening, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue an urgent tsunami warning for parts of the country’s northern coastline.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake’s magnitude and timing, reporting that it hit at 14:15 UTC at a depth of 53.1 km.
According to the USGS, the epicentre was located 73 kilometres east-northeast of Misawa, a city in northern Japan. The quake occurred off the coasts of Aomori and Hokkaido, leading authorities to warn that tsunami waves as high as three metres (10 feet) could reach the region.
As reported by Reuters, the JMA issued tsunami alerts for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures, after the strong tremors were felt across a wide stretch of Japan’s northern and eastern regions.
This latest seismic event comes amid a series of earthquakes reported in and around Japan this year. In July, a 5.5-magnitude quake struck near the remote Tokara island chain in Kagoshima, though no tsunami advisory was issued at that time.
The broader region has also seen significant seismic activity recently. In July, Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula experienced a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake, generating tsunami waves that affected neighbouring areas. It was noted as the strongest earthquake globally in 14 years.
Japan, situated along the seismically active Ring of Fire, continues to remain vigilant. The country still recalls the catastrophic 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, a 9.1-magnitude megathrust event that unleashed a massive tsunami and caused widespread devastation.
Authorities are closely monitoring Monday’s quake and its after-effects as coastal residents brace for potential tsunami waves.
