A powerful earthquake struck the northern coast of Japan, registering a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was located approximately 50 kilometers below the seabed near Hokkaido Island and the Aomori region, prompting authorities to issue immediate tsunami warnings for the affected coastal areas.
Officials cautioned that strong tremors could trigger tsunami waves as high as 3 meters (10 feet) along the coasts of Aomori and Hokkaido. Within minutes of the quake, smaller tsunami waves measuring around 40 centimeters were reported along the Urakawa coast in Hokkaido and the Mutsu-Ogawara coast in Aomori.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the formation of an emergency task force to assess the damage caused by the earthquake and emphasized that protecting human lives remains the government’s highest priority. Authorities are also closely monitoring the situation to coordinate rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.
Local media reported that inspections are underway at nuclear power plants in the earthquake-hit region to ensure safety protocols are in place. In addition, several people sustained injuries at a hotel in Hachinohe city due to the impact of the disaster, while emergency services continue to respond to incidents across the northern coastal areas.