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30 Injured in 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake in Northeastern Japan
At least 30 people have been injured after a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Japan on Monday night, triggering widespread evacuations and leaving thousands without power. The quake, which occurred at 23:15 local time (14:15 GMT), had a depth of 50km (31 miles) and struck about 80km off the coast of Aomori Prefecture.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings following the tremor, though they have since been lifted. Waves of up to 70cm (27 inches) were recorded, but no major damage from the tsunami has been reported. Authorities warned that additional tremors could strike in the coming days, urging citizens to remain vigilant for at least a week.
In response to the earthquake, around 90,000 residents were ordered to evacuate their homes. As of Tuesday morning, thousands of homes have been left without power, and several train services have been suspended, affecting transportation along the northeastern coast. Aomori Prefecture reported that around 2,700 homes are without electricity.
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the public, urging citizens to ensure their homes are prepared for earthquakes by securing furniture and being ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. The government has set up an emergency response team at the Prime Minister’s Crisis Management Centre, with efforts underway to assess damage and coordinate rescue and relief operations.
No irregularities have been reported at nuclear power plants in the affected area, including the Higashidori and Onagawa plants, according to Tohoku Electric Power. Additionally, the Fukushima nuclear site, which was heavily damaged by the 2011 earthquake, did not show any signs of irregularity.
Japan remains one of the most earthquake-prone countries globally, sitting on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiencing approximately 1,500 quakes annually. Earlier this year, Japan’s earthquake investigation panel warned of a 60-90% chance of a megaquake in the Nankai Trough, which could cause catastrophic damage and loss of life.
The 2011 disaster, triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, remains the deadliest in Japan’s history, with over 18,000 people killed and entire towns wiped off the map by the tsunami. The threat of future seismic events continues to loom over the country, underscoring the ongoing risk to its population.
