Local administrations acted quickly, advising people to avoid beaches, river mouths, and low-lying coastal areas.

Japan Earthquake Today: 7.4 Magnitude Quake Sparks Tsunami Alert

A strong earthquake measuring 7.4 magnitude struck off the northern coast of Japan on Monday at 4:53 pm local time, triggering a tsunami warning and emergency alerts across several coastal regions. Authorities confirmed that the tremor originated near the Sanriku coast at a depth of around 10 kilometres beneath the seabed.

Following the seismic activity, Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued immediate advisories urging residents in vulnerable coastal zones to move to higher ground. The warning covers parts of Iwate, Aomori, and southern Hokkaido, where precautionary evacuations were also recommended in several towns.

Early wave activity was recorded at multiple ports after the quake. At Kuji Port, sea levels rose to about 80 centimetres, while another nearby monitoring point reported waves close to 40 centimetres. Officials warned that further and potentially stronger waves could still develop depending on seismic conditions.

Local administrations acted quickly, advising people to avoid beaches, river mouths, and low-lying coastal areas. Emergency response teams have been placed on standby as monitoring continues across the region.

The Meteorological Agency also cautioned that aftershocks may continue for several days following the initial quake, urging residents to remain alert and follow official instructions.

While no major damage reports have been confirmed yet, authorities continue to assess the situation as tsunami risk remains under observation, with wave heights of up to three metres not entirely ruled out in worst-case scenarios.