Strong 7.5-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Northern Japan, Tsunami Warnings Later Lifted
December 9, 2025
A powerful earthquake measuring about 7.5 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of northern Japan late Monday, shaking buildings across a wide area and prompting urgent tsunami warnings along the Pacific shoreline. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the quake hit at around 11:15 pm local time off Aomori Prefecture at a depth of roughly 50–60 km, with tremors strong enough to register “upper 6” on Japan’s seven‑level seismic intensity scale in the city of Hachinohe.
• At least 30–33 people injured, most by falling furniture and glass, with one person reported in serious condition.
• Around 90,000–100,000 residents along parts of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate coasts were ordered or urged to move to higher ground and evacuation shelters.
Tsunami Waves And Structural Damage
Authorities initially warned of tsunami waves up to 3 metres high, but the largest waves recorded at ports such as Hachinohe and Kuji were in the 20–70 cm range before the alert was downgraded to an advisory and then lifted early Tuesday. Local media reported cracked roads, broken windows and damaged commercial buildings in parts of Aomori Prefecture, as well as at least one fire and short‑term power outages affecting several thousand homes.
Bullet trains on the Tohoku Shinkansen line and some local rail services were temporarily suspended for safety inspections, stranding passengers overnight until tracks and overhead equipment were declared safe. Officials said there were no abnormalities at nuclear plants, including the Fukushima Daiichi facility, according to Japan’s regulators and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Aftershock Risk And ‘Megaquake’ Fears
- The JMA has warned that strong aftershocks are possible in the coming days and urged residents not to return immediately to coastal low‑lying areas.
- Seismologists said the event fits the pattern of large quakes along the Sanriku coast and revived public concern about a potential future “megaquake” in the region.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convened an emergency task force in Tokyo, pledging rapid damage assessments and support for affected communities while appealing to people to rely on official information rather than rumours circulating on social media.
State Correspondents will continue to track developments, aftershock reports.
