Overview
- A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck at about 11:15 p.m. local time off Aomori, roughly 50 miles offshore at a depth near 50–53 km, according to JMA and USGS.
- Tsunami warnings covered Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, with observed surges between 20 and 70 cm, including a 70 cm reading at Kuji, after initial guidance warned waves could reach about 3 meters.
- Japan activated a government task force as authorities advised about 90,000 people to evacuate or shelter, with reports of several injuries, a few fires and transport disruptions including suspended rail services.
- Nuclear operators reported no abnormalities at nearby plants while safety inspections continued, and utilities said initial power outages were reduced from thousands to hundreds of households.
- Separately, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake near the Alaska–Canada border produced 164 aftershocks within 24 hours, with no tsunami threat reported for the U.S. West Coast.