Magnitude 7.5 earthquake off Northern Japan injures 33; tsunami advisory lifted

Tokyo: A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, injuring 33 people and generating tsunami waves along Pacific coast communities, officials reported.

The quake hit around 11:15 p.m. (7:45 p.m. IST) in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 80 kilometres off Aomori prefecture on Honshu island. Japan’s Meteorological Agency recorded tsunami waves up to 70 centimetres in Kuji port, Iwate prefecture, and 50 centimetres in other coastal areas, initially warning of surges up to 3 meters before downgrading to advisory.

At least 33 people were injured, one seriously, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. Most of them were hit by falling objects, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Convenience store owner Nobuo Yamada in Hachinohe told NHK, “I’ve never experienced such a big shaking,” noting power lines remained operational. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara reported 800 homes without electricity and suspensions of Shinkansen bullet trains and local lines.

Nuclear facilities conducted safety checks; at the Rokkasho reprocessing plant, 450 litres of water were spilt from a spent fuel area, but levels stayed normal with no safety issues.

Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said 480 residents were sheltered at Hachinohe Air Base, with 18 helicopters deployed for assessment. About 200 passengers were stranded overnight at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido.

The agency cautioned about aftershocks and a slightly elevated risk of a magnitude 8 quake along the northeastern coast from Chiba to Hokkaido, urging 182 municipalities to check preparedness.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi activated an emergency task force, emphasising lives first, and advised residents to monitor local updates and evacuate immediately upon tremors. Tsunami advisories were lifted by 6:20 a.m. (2:50 a.m. IST) Tuesday.

The U.S. Geological Survey noted a follow-up magnitude 5.1 quake early Tuesday, 122 kilometres south of Honcho at a depth of 35 kilometres. The event occurred near the 2011 magnitude 9.0 disaster zone, prompting warnings to prepare for similar risks.

With inputs from AP