Tokyo, April 20: Authorities in Japan have activated tsunami warnings following a powerful earthquake that struck off the northeastern coast on Monday afternoon. The tremor, initially recorded at a magnitude of 7.4 before being revised to 7.5, occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers in the Pacific Ocean.
The Japan Meteorological Agency asserted that tsunami waves of up to three meters are expected to impact the coastlines of Iwate, Aomori, and Hokkaido prefectures. Officials declared that the earliest waves could reach the shoreline immediately and warned that damage in low-lying areas is likely.
“Evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas to a safer place such as high ground or an evacuation building,” the agency stated in an emergency alert. Authorities maintained that residents must remain in safe locations until the official warning is lifted, noting that waves are expected to hit repeatedly.
Broadcaster NHK provided footage showing vessels departing from Hachinohe port in Hokkaido to avoid the incoming waves as emergency alerts were broadcast across the region. The seismic activity reached an “upper 5” on Japan’s intensity scale, which is strong enough to cause structural damage to unreinforced concrete walls and inhibit movement.
Government officials confirmed that emergency response teams are monitoring the situation across the affected prefectures. While Japan frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the current alert remains a primary concern for the safety of citizens residing in the northern coastal districts.
