A significant earthquake off the coast of northern Japan resulted in at least 30 injuries, according to authorities on Tuesday, causing road damage and leaving thousands without electricity in frigid weather.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the magnitude 7.5 earthquake at 11:15 PM on Monday (1415 GMT), previously assessed at 7.6, has increased the likelihood of comparable or more significant seismic activity in the forthcoming days.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reported that 30 individuals sustained injuries from the earthquake off the coast of Aomori, which generated tsunami waves reaching 70 centimetres (28 inches) in height.
According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, one individual sustained critical injuries on the primary northern island of Hokkaido.
Video evidence showed multiple fissures in roadways and at least one vehicle in a cavity, with shattered glass from windows scattered across roads and sidewalks.
Initially, reports indicated multiple flames. Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated on Tuesday that there was one verified fire at a residence.
An AFP correspondent in Hokkaido reported that the ground trembled for almost 30 seconds, while smartphone alarms sounded to alert locals.
Daiki Shimohata, 33, a public servant in Hashikami, Aomori Prefecture, on Honshu Island, told AFP that he and his family hurried out of their residence.
The tremor was an unprecedented experience for us. “It lasted approximately 20 seconds,” Shimohata stated over the telephone.
“We were cradling our children — a two-year-old girl and a one-year-old boy — in our arms. The tremors evoked memories of the catastrophe in 2011,” he stated.
Emergency services said that around 28,000 people were instructed to evacuate their homes following the earthquake, and media sources reported that some temporary shelters reached capacity.
Following the earthquake, over 2,700 residences in Aomori experienced power outages in near-freezing temperatures, according to Kyodo News.
By Tuesday morning, electricity had been restored to most areas, with fewer than 40 residences still without power, according to utility companies.
The JMA initially warned of potential tsunamis reaching 3 meters (10 feet) in height, which may cause significant damage, prompting hundreds of residents to seek refuge in secure locations.
Ultimately, the highest recorded waves reached 70 centimetres, and after several hours, the alerts were rescinded.
The Shinkansen bullet train service was halted in several regions as engineers inspected the tracks for potential damage.
Tohoku Electric Power said that no anomalies were observed at the Higashidori nuclear power plant in Aomori or the Onagawa site in adjacent Miyagi.
Takaichi cautioned locals to exercise vigilance early Tuesday.
“Please heed information from the JMA or local authorities for approximately one week and verify that furniture is secured… and be ready to evacuate upon experiencing tremors,” she stated.
‘Megaquake’
In 2011, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake precipitated a tsunami that resulted in 18,500 fatalities or disappearances and caused a catastrophic meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear facility.
Japan is located atop four principal tectonic plates along the western boundary of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it one of the most tectonically active nations globally.
The archipelago, home to over 125 million people, experiences roughly 1,500 seismic events annually.
The majority are moderate, while the extent of damage varies based on their position and depth beneath the Earth’s surface.
Seismic events are exceedingly difficult to forecast, but in January, a governmental committee slightly raised the likelihood of a significant tremor in the Nankai Trough off Japan over the next 30 years to 75-82 per cent.
In March, the government issued a revised estimate indicating that a “megaquake” and ensuing wave may result in approximately 298,000 fatalities and losses reaching $2 trillion.
