A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off Japan’s northeast coast on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings and evacuation calls in parts of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake hit about 62 miles east-northeast of Miyako off the Sanriku coast at around 4:53 p.m. local time, or 3:53 a.m. EDT, the USGS said. The agency said the quake’s magnitude was initially estimated at 7.4 and later revised upward.
Tsunami warnings were issued for Iwate Prefecture, the central Pacific coastal area of Hokkaido Prefecture, and the coastal area of Aomori Prefecture. Forecasts warned that tsunami waves of up to 3 meters could arrive immediately.
An 80-centimeter tsunami was observed at Kuji port in Iwate Prefecture, the agency said. A magnitude 5.6 aftershock was also recorded less than an hour after the main quake.
In a statement posted on X, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents in the warning zones to evacuate at once to higher ground, evacuation buildings or other safe locations.
Takaichi said strong shaking with a maximum seismic intensity of 5 on Japan’s scale was observed in Aomori. She said the government set up a contact room at the Prime Minister’s Office Crisis Management Center immediately after the quake and was working to assess damage, carry out emergency disaster measures and provide timely public information.
She said reports on human and material damage were still being confirmed.
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