Japan Hit by Powerful 7.5 Earthquake as Officials Issue Rare Megaquake Warning

Japan Hit by Powerful 7.5 Earthquake as Officials Issue Rare Megaquake Warning

A massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan's northeast coast late last night, terrifying thousands of residents in Hokkaido and Tohoku and triggering urgent tsunami warnings.

The quake hit around 80 kilometres offshore near Aomori Prefecture, with tremors lasting several minutes. Emergency alerts blared on mobile phones across the region as authorities warned of tsunami waves up to three metres high. Thankfully, the actual waves reached about 70 centimetres in coastal areas like Hachinohe and Kamaishi, though this was still enough to flood streets and send roughly 90,000 people scrambling to higher ground.

Videos shared on social media capture the frightening moments as the earthquake struck. Footage from a shop in Takizawa shows fish tanks violently sloshing water everywhere, creating cascades down stairs. Another clip from Hachinohe shows buildings swaying dangerously, with windows shattering and office shelves collapsing. One man in his 40s described feeling like the earth was punching upward, whilst a 75-year-old woman fled with her daughter by car toward evacuation centres. A bullet train was stranded with 94 passengers aboard, stuck in the cold night.

At least 23 people have been injured, with one seriously hurt from flying glass and falls during the chaos. Power cuts affected several areas, roads buckled, and traffic accidents occurred as panicked drivers rushed to safety. One school vice principal described finding smashed dishes at home before navigating gridlocked roads littered with car crashes on his way to an evacuation centre.

What's really alarmed officials is Japan's Meteorological Agency issuing its first-ever top-level "megaquake" advisory. This warns that an even larger earthquake—magnitude 8 or higher—could strike within the next week along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Chiba. Authorities have urged 118 municipalities to prepare emergency supplies including food, water, and torches.

Experts say whilst the overall probability remains low, it's elevated following this significant quake. The warning echoes memories of 2011, when a magnitude 7 earthquake preceded the catastrophic 9.0 quake and tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Several aftershocks have already been recorded, including tremors measuring 5.5, 5.0, and 4.8.

Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences about 20% of the world's major earthquakes. The government is monitoring the situation closely, with evacuation centres operating and a week-long advisory in effect to keep residents prepared and vigilant.