Major 7.5-magnitude quake strikes off northern Japan, triggers tsunami warnings
20 Apr 2026 04:06 PM
Major 7.5-magnitude quake strikes off northern Japan, triggers tsunami warnings
The tremor was strong enough to shake large buildings as far as Tokyo.
A television screen shows a news report on Japan Meteorological Agency's tsunami warning, saying it expected tsunami waves of up to 3m to reach large coastal areas in northern Japan after an earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, in Tokyo, Japan on Apr 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Issei Kato)
TOKYO: A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on Monday (Apr 20), Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, issuing a tsunami warning for waves up to 3m in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures.
The quake, which hit at 4.53pm local time (3.53pm Singapore time) in Pacific waters off northern Iwate prefecture, was 10km deep and strong enough to shake large buildings as far as Tokyo, hundreds of kilometres away.
Japan's earthquake response
So far, there have been no reports of damage after the quake hit.
Japan has significantly strengthened its disaster preparedness since the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Early warning systems have been upgraded, allowing alerts to reach phones, television and public loudspeakers within seconds of a quake. Evacuation protocols have also been refined, with clearer guidance for coastal communities to move quickly to higher ground.
Infrastructure has been reinforced, including expanded seawalls and tsunami barriers in vulnerable areas.
Status of nuclear power plants in Japan's north
Tokyo Electric Power Company reported no abnormalities at its Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini nuclear plants, according to NHK.
Tohoku Electric Power Company, which operates plants lying further north, said the same for its Higashidori nuclear power plant in Aomori and its Onagawa plant in Miyagi.
There were also no abnormalities at Hokkaido's only nuclear power plant, its operator Hokkaido Electric Power Co said in a post on X.
32 minutes ago
JMA warns of big aftershocks over the next week
Japan's meteorological agency warned that areas hit by strong shaking could experience more earthquakes for about a week.
These aftershocks could be of magnitude 5 or higher on Japan's seismic intensity scale.
The country's scale goes from 0 to 7, and includes two tiers of intensity for magnitude 5 and 6 earthquakes.
Aftershocks often occur within two to three days after the initial earthquake, said the agency.
Long tremors in Tohoku region
NHK has reported long tremors that could rock high-rise buildings in Tohoku, which is a region of Japan’s main Honshu island.
JMA refers to this as a long-period ground motion and it affects those on higher floors. The intensity is ranked on a four-level scale with Class 3 tremors making it difficult to remain standing.
Class 3 tremors were felt in Wakuya Town in Miyagi Prefecture and Yokote City in Akita Prefecture, said NHK, adding that experts say they can be strong enough to topple furniture.
Ships sail out of ports
Ships were seen sailing out of Hachinohe port in Hokkaido, moving out to deeper waters ahead of the expected tsunami waves.
No tsunami threat to Australia
Following the Japan quake, the Australian authorities say there is no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories.
Today
14:53
Government assessing extent of damage: PM Sanae Takaichi
Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her government was doing its “utmost” to assess the extent of the damage, carry out emergency measures such as rescue operations and provide timely and accurate information to the public.
“Residents in areas under tsunami warnings should immediately evacuate to higher ground or safe elevated locations,” she said.
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Major 7.5-magnitude quake strikes off northern Japan, triggers tsunami warnings
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Major 7.5-magnitude quake strikes off northern Japan, triggers tsunami warnings
The tremor was strong enough to shake large buildings as far as Tokyo.
Major 7.5-magnitude quake strikes off northern Japan, triggers tsunami warnings
A television screen shows a news report on Japan Meteorological Agency's tsunami warning, saying it expected tsunami waves of up to 3m to reach large coastal areas in northern Japan after an earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, in Tokyo, Japan on Apr 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Issei Kato)
20 Apr 2026 04:06PM (Updated: 20 Apr 2026 06:01PM)
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TOKYO: A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan on Monday (Apr 20), Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) said, issuing a tsunami warning for waves up to 3m in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures.
The quake, which hit at 4.53pm local time (3.53pm Singapore time) in Pacific waters off northern Iwate prefecture, was 10km deep and strong enough to shake large buildings as far as Tokyo, hundreds of kilometres away.
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10 minutes ago
Japan's earthquake response
So far, there have been no reports of damage after the quake hit.
Japan has significantly strengthened its disaster preparedness since the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Early warning systems have been upgraded, allowing alerts to reach phones, television and public loudspeakers within seconds of a quake. Evacuation protocols have also been refined, with clearer guidance for coastal communities to move quickly to higher ground.
Infrastructure has been reinforced, including expanded seawalls and tsunami barriers in vulnerable areas.
An electronic bulletin board warning about the earthquake in Sendai city of Miyagi Prefecture on Apr 20, 2026. (Photo: STR/JIJI Press/AFP)
An electronic bulletin board warning about the earthquake in Sendai city of Miyagi Prefecture on Apr 20, 2026. (Photo: STR/JIJI Press/AFP)
23 minutes ago
Status of nuclear power plants in Japan's north
Tokyo Electric Power Company reported no abnormalities at its Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini nuclear plants, according to NHK.
Tohoku Electric Power Company, which operates plants lying further north, said the same for its Higashidori nuclear power plant in Aomori and its Onagawa plant in Miyagi.
There were also no abnormalities at Hokkaido's only nuclear power plant, its operator Hokkaido Electric Power Co said in a post on X.
35 minutes ago
JMA warns of big aftershocks over the next week
Japan's meteorological agency warned that areas hit by strong shaking could experience more earthquakes for about a week.
These aftershocks could be of magnitude 5 or higher on Japan's seismic intensity scale.
The country's scale goes from 0 to 7, and includes two tiers of intensity for magnitude 5 and 6 earthquakes.
Aftershocks often occur within two to three days after the initial earthquake, said the agency.
An official of the Japan Meteorological Agency speaks near a monitor showing a tsunami alert during a news conference at the agency in Tokyo on Apr 20, 2026, after an earthquake that struck off the northern Japanese coast.
An official of the Japan Meteorological Agency speaks near a monitor showing a tsunami alert during a news conference at the agency in Tokyo on Apr 20, 2026, after an earthquake that struck off the northern Japanese coast. (Kyodo News via AP)
46 minutes ago
Long tremors in Tohoku region
NHK has reported long tremors that could rock high-rise buildings in Tohoku, which is a region of Japan’s main Honshu island.
JMA refers to this as a long-period ground motion and it affects those on higher floors. The intensity is ranked on a four-level scale with Class 3 tremors making it difficult to remain standing.
Class 3 tremors were felt in Wakuya Town in Miyagi Prefecture and Yokote City in Akita Prefecture, said NHK, adding that experts say they can be strong enough to topple furniture.
Long-period ground motion information following the quake off northern Japan on Apr 20, 2026. The areas in red are in Akita and Miyagi prefectures. (Image: Japan Meteorological Agency website)
Long-period ground motion information following the quake off northern Japan on Apr 20, 2026. The areas in red are in Akita and Miyagi prefectures. (Image: Japan Meteorological Agency website)
58 minutes ago
Ships sail out of ports
Ships were seen sailing out of Hachinohe port in Hokkaido, moving out to deeper waters ahead of the expected tsunami waves.
Watch it here.
Today
14:55
No tsunami threat to Australia
Following the Japan quake, the Australian authorities say there is no tsunami threat to the Australian mainland, islands or territories.
Today
14:53
Government assessing extent of damage: PM Sanae Takaichi
Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her government was doing its “utmost” to assess the extent of the damage, carry out emergency measures such as rescue operations and provide timely and accurate information to the public.
“Residents in areas under tsunami warnings should immediately evacuate to higher ground or safe elevated locations,” she said.
Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to media after the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning, at her official residence in Tokyo on Apr 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Kyodo)
Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to media after the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning, at her official residence in Tokyo on Apr 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Kyodo)
Today
14:41
Tsunami waves at other ports and towns
Besides Kuji port, tsunami waves have also reached several ports and towns in Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, reported local broadcaster NHK.
According to its reports, the waves were seen at:
Urakawa Town, Hokkaido
Shono in Erimo Town
Mutsu Ogawara Port, Aomori
Hachinohe Port, Aomori
Miyako, Iwate
Ofunato, Iwate
Kamaishi, Iwate
Today
14:30
Tsunami waves reach several parts of Japan's northern coasts
An 80cm tsunami wave has hit a port in northern Japan.
It was observed at 5.34pm local time (4.34pm Singapore time) in Kuji, Iwate, and comes shortly after JMA said a 70cm wave arrived at another port in the prefecture.
In addition to issuing tsunami warnings for Iwate prefecture and parts of Hokkaido and Aomori, the agency earlier also issued a tsunami advisory for Hokkaido, Aomori, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.
Japan has several categories of tsunami alerts.
A major tsunami warning means a tsunami of this scale is huge and over 3m, with expectations of serious damage, while a tsunami warning means maximum heights of 3m with expected damage in low-lying areas.
A tsunami advisory indicates a maximum expected height of 1m, with possible damage to fish farming facilities and the capsizing of small vessels.
Today
14:25
Japan's history with earthquakes
Japan is one of the world's most seismically active countries, sitting atop four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific "Ring of Fire".
The archipelago typically experiences around 1,500 jolts every year and accounts for about 18 per cent of the world's earthquakes.
Most tremors are minor. But Japan has also endured some of the world’s most powerful quakes - most notably the magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake in 2011, which triggered a devastating tsunami. About 18,500 people were killed, and the disaster led to a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima plant.
In 2024, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its first special advisory of a possible "megaquake" along the Nankai Trough.
Government estimates suggest such a quake and the resulting tsunami could kill up to 298,000 people and cause as much as US$2 trillion in damage.
Although the advisory was lifted after a week, it sparked widespread concern - triggering panic buying of staples like rice and prompting some travellers to cancel holiday plans.
Singapore embassy's advice for citizens in Japan
Singapore's embassy in Tokyo advised Singaporeans in the country to monitor local conditions closely following tsunami warnings from Japan authorities.
Singaporeans in Japan who require consular assistance can contact the embassy at +81 3 3586 9111 (or +81 90 5258 3252 after office hours).
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