A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Monday at 4:53 pm local time. The undersea quake occurred in Pacific waters off northern Iwate prefecture on the main island of Honshu, with an epicenter 10 km deep. The tremor was strong enough to shake large buildings as far as Tokyo, hundreds of kilometers away.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami alerts across the region, as waves of up to three meters were expected. Authorities stated that the biggest waves are anticipated in Iwate, Aomori, and Hokkaido prefectures.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced that the government has established an emergency task force and crisis management team to handle the situation. Residents in affected coastal areas have been urged to evacuate to safety, seek higher ground, and heed all safety instructions.