Strong 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Japan's Coast with Tsunami Warnings
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit northeastern Japan on Monday, triggering a tsunami warning later downgraded to an advisory. Nearly 172,000 people were evacuated as officials warned of potential aftershocks in the coming week.
Major Seismic Event
A three-meter (9.8-foot) tsunami warning was issued for Japan on Monday after a strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency and the US Geological Survey. Monday's quake struck at a depth of 20 kilometers about 100 km off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at 4:53 p.m., registering a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic scale to 7 in some parts of Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures.
Evacuation and Damage
Across Hokkaido and Iwate, Aomori, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, evacuation orders were issued to nearly 172,000 people. The quake triggered an 80-centimeter tsunami at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture, while Miyako Port, also in Iwate, saw a 40-cm tsunami.
Future Aftershock Risk
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that aftershocks of a similar magnitude could happen in the coming week. JMA officials emphasized that the region—which has experienced repeated earthquakes over short periods in the past—should be on alert for more strong quakes over the next week, especially the next two to three days.