Breaking: Powerful 7.4 earthquake jolts Northern Japan, Tsunami alert triggers mass evacuations
Babushahi Bureau
Tokyo (Japan), April 20, 2026:A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on Monday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning and urge immediate evacuations from coastal areas.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at 4:53 pm local time in the Pacific Ocean off Iwate prefecture. The tremors were powerful enough to be felt in buildings as far away as Tokyo, several hundred kilometres from the epicentre.
Officials warned that tsunami waves of up to three metres could hit the northern coastline, with the first waves expected to arrive shortly after the quake. Residents in affected regions were asked to move to higher ground or designated evacuation centres without delay.
Authorities cautioned that tsunami waves may strike repeatedly and advised people not to return to low-lying areas until the warning is officially lifted.
Visuals aired by NHK showed no immediate large-scale damage in port areas of Iwate, though assessments were still underway.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that a crisis management team had been activated to monitor the situation and coordinate response efforts. She urged residents in high-risk zones to prioritise safety and follow evacuation advisories.
Japan, located along the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes due to its position atop multiple tectonic plates, making disaster preparedness a critical part of national policy.