Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Strikes Northeast Japan, Injuring 30 And Triggering Tsunami Warnings

A significant earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 hit northeastern Japan late on Monday night, resulting in injuries to 30 individuals and causing tsunami waves up to 70 centimetres high along the Pacific coast, according to the Japanese government. The quake struck at 11:15 pm off Aomori Prefecture's eastern coast, at a depth of 54 kilometres.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has cautioned that another earthquake of similar or greater magnitude could occur in the same region soon. This is the first time such an alert has been issued for Hokkaido's coastal regions and the Sanriku coast, which stretches from Aomori through Iwate and Miyagi prefectures, as reported by Kyodo News.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to stay informed through local governments and the weather agency over the next week. She advised people to prepare for another potential quake by securing furniture and being ready to evacuate if necessary. "The government asks residents to continue social and economic activities while maintaining a readiness to evacuate immediately if any shaking is felt," Takaichi stated during a press briefing in Tokyo.

The agency initially reported a magnitude of 7.6 but later revised it to 7.5. They warned of possible tsunami waves reaching up to 3 metres following the quake. However, the highest recorded tsunami waves were 70 cm in Iwate.

The earthquake occurred along a trench off Hokkaido's coast and northeastern Japan, where significant quakes can happen due to the Pacific plate subducting beneath Honshu's main island, according to experts.

Injuries were reported in both Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido as a result of this seismic event. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and prepared for any further developments in this seismically active area.

With inputs from WAM