Northern coastal regions of Japan were jolted by a strong earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, triggering tsunami warnings and causing widespread panic among residents. The tremor struck the Sanriku region at around 4:54 PM local time on Monday, with its epicenter located approximately 10 kilometers beneath the seabed, according to seismic authorities.
Following the quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued immediate tsunami alerts, warning of possible waves reaching up to 10 feet along coastal areas. Initial tsunami activity was recorded at several ports, including 80 cm at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture and 40 cm at Miyako Port, while other regions reported waves between 20–30 cm. Authorities urged residents in Iwate, Hokkaido, and Aomori prefectures to move to higher ground and remain cautious.
The earthquake significantly disrupted Japan’s transportation network, with authorities suspending major bullet train services on the Tohoku Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. Services on the Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen routes were also halted, along with several local train operations in Iwate and parts of Hokkaido. However, airport operations at Shin-Chitose and Sendai continued without interruption.
Amid concerns of a wider impact, India’s Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to India. Officials stated that tsunami effects are generally confined within a 300-kilometer radius of the epicenter and assured continuous monitoring of ocean conditions, with no immediate risk identified for Indian coastal regions.
Japan, which lies along multiple tectonic plate boundaries, remains highly vulnerable to seismic activity, and experts have warned of possible aftershocks in the coming days. The latest quake has once again revived concerns over the country’s exposure to major earthquakes, recalling the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that caused massive destruction and loss of life.