A very strong earthquake happened off the coast of northern Japan on Monday night. It caused immediate tsunami warnings and tens of thousands of people had to leave their homes near the sea. The earthquake shook northern areas just before midnight. Authorities reacted very quickly. The tsunami warnings ended later because the waves were not very high. However, officials say there could still be strong aftershocks in the next few days.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.5. It started in the sea near Aomori prefecture. Very quickly, tsunami warnings were announced for the coasts of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate. TV stations broke into their programs with urgent messages. They told people in danger zones to go to higher ground immediately. About 90,000 people evacuated because of this.
The government set up an emergency team. The military sent helicopters to check for damage from the air. Early reports show there was a lot of disruption but not major destruction. At least 30 people were hurt, mostly from falls or from things inside their homes falling during the shaking.
Some houses lost power and train services stopped. Small tsunamis were seen, with the biggest wave at 70 centimeters. Nuclear power plants in the area reported no problems. Hundreds of people stayed in emergency shelters overnight.
A government leader said they are working hard to help people and check all the damage. They also reminded everyone to be prepared for earthquakes by securing furniture and knowing where to go.
This earthquake reminds us that Japan often has seismic activity. People must stay alert, as more shaking is possible in the coming week. The event showed that Japan's warning systems and evacuation plans are very important.