A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off Japan’s northeast coast late Sunday, triggering tsunami warnings for several prefectures and prompting evacuations. Waves up to 3 meters high may impact the region, with initial surges already observed at coastal ports.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported the tremor at 11:15 p.m. local time, about 50 miles offshore near the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. Tsunami alerts cover Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures, with advisories extending to Niigata, Toyama, and Fukui. Evacuations began immediately for coastal areas, focusing on low-lying zones. Reuters noted waves of 20-50 cm registered at ports in Ishikawa and Niigata shortly after the event, with higher surges possible within hours.
The earthquake’s epicenter lay at a shallow depth of 10 km, amplifying shaking across central Honshu. Preliminary reports indicate intensities of 6-upper on Japan’s seismic scale in Wajima and Nanao cities, Ishikawa, causing structural damage, power outages affecting over 100,000 households, and disruptions to rail services including the Shinkansen line. No immediate fatalities have been confirmed, but rescue teams mobilized for potential landslides and building collapses. The U.S. Geological Survey registered the quake at magnitude 7.5, with aftershocks including a 6.2 event minutes later.
NHK World reported evacuations at stations and schools in affected areas, with authorities urging residents to seek higher ground. The JMA warned of repeated waves and advised against returning home until the alert lifts. This follows a series of seismic activities in the region, linked to the Japan Trench subduction zone. In 2011, a similar 9.0 quake there caused the Fukushima disaster and over 15,000 deaths.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
