Japan’s weather agency has issued its highest-level warning that a megaquake could follow Monday’s 7.5-magnitude tremor.
Authorities urged anyone living near the Pacific coast to remain vigilant throughout the coming week and to prepare evacuation plans in case they need to flee their homes.
The warning covers approximately 800 miles (1,300 kilometres), stretching from Japan’s northeastern coast from Chiba, just east of Tokyo, to Hokkaido.
Prime minister Sanae Takaichi urged members of the public to prepare, saying: “Please take appropriate disaster-prevention measures based on the principle that you are responsible for protecting your own life.”
Monday night’s earthquake injured at least 34 people and triggered widespread tsunami warnings, with waves of up to 70cm reported in several coastal communities.
All alerts were later lifted, and nuclear power plants across northeastern Japan conducted urgent inspections as a precaution.
The quake struck at around 11.15pm in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 50 miles off the coast of Aomori.
Tuesday’s notice was the first time this top-tier alert has been issued since the warning system was launched in 2022.
Read MoreIs it safe to travel to Japan? Megaquake warning sparked by 7.5-magnitude tremor
Japanese government warns megaquake could kill 300,000 and halve GDP
Key Points
- Alert for a potential megaquake issued
- Mapped: Where in Japan would a potential megaquake strike?
- Japanese PM Takaichi urges residents to take ‘disaster-prevention measures’ amid megaquake fears
- 34 people injured, including one in serious condition
- Watch moment 7.5-magnitude earthquake hits Japan
Recap: Japan issues a megaquake advisory
03:00 , Shaheena UddinThe Japan Meteorological Agency says Monday's powerful quake temporarily increased potential risks in the regions of Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast.
That's where the Pacific Plate beneath Japan forms the two trenches — the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench — that have caused many large quakes in the past.
Experts say the deadly quake and tsunami in 2011 was caused by movement associated with the Japan Trench. It spans from off the eastern coast of Chiba to Aomori, and the Chishima Trench goes from the eastern coast of Hokkaido to the northern islands and the Kurils.
In explaining the advisory, the JMA said the magnitude 9.0 quake on 11 March 2011, that devastated large swaths of Japan's northern coast occurred two days after a magnitude 7.3 temblor that occurred at the Japan Trench off the eastern coast of Iwate, one of the hardest-hit areas in that disaster as well as in Monday's quake.
The 2011 quake caused a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.
The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, slammed into and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. That created deep fears of radiation that linger to this day.
In pictures: fires that broke out after the earthquake struck
02:30 , Shaheena UddinA general view shows the scene of a fire that broke out after an earthquake in Aomori City on Tuesday.
At least 10 people were reported injured, but there appeared to be no major damage after a big quake rocked northern Japan and triggered tsunami waves up to 70 centimetres high.
800 homes were without electricity
01:30 , Shaheena UddinChief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said about 800 homes were without electricity due to the quake.
Moreover, Shinkansen bullet trains and some local lines were suspended in parts of the region in the early hours of Tuesday. East Japan Railway said bullet trains resumed operation in the region later Tuesday.
Power was mostly restored by Tuesday morning, according to the Tohoku Electric Power Co.
About 480 residents sheltered at Hachinohe Air Base and 18 defense helicopters were mobilized for a damage assessment, according to Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
About 200 passengers were stranded for the night at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, NHK, a Japanese broadcaster reported.
Part of a domestic terminal building was unusable Tuesday after parts of its ceiling cracked and fell to the floor, the airport operator said.
Is it safe to travel to Japan? Megaquake warning sparked by 7.5-magnitude tremor
00:30 , Shaheena UddinJapan’s weather agency has warned that another large-scale earthquake could follow the 7.5-magnitude tremor which hit the country on Monday.
Is it safe to travel to Japan after megaquake warning?
Japan assesses damage from 7.5 magnitude quake that injured 34
Tuesday 9 December 2025 23:30 , Shaheena UddinToday Japan was assessing damage following the late-night 7.5 magnitude earthquake which injured 34.
The quake also caused light damage and a tsunami in Pacific coastal communities.
Authorities have been cautioning people of potential aftershocks.
Prime minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters an emergency task force was formed to urgently assess damage. “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can,” she said.
At a parliamentary session Tuesday, Takaichi pledged the government would continue its utmost effort and reminded people they have to protect their own lives.
Watch moment 7.5-magnitude earthquake hits Japan
Tuesday 9 December 2025 22:30 , Shaheena UddinWhat is a megaquake? Japan issues first official warning for disaster that could kills tens of thousands
Tuesday 9 December 2025 20:00 , Alex CroftJapan’s weather agency has issued a megaquake warning, the highest level of earthquake alert, hours after a 7.5 magnitude tremor struck the country.
Residents living near the Pacific coast have been urged by authorities to remain vigilant throughout the coming week and prepare evacuation plans in case they need to flee their homes.
At least 33 people were injured in the earthquake on Monday night, with waves reaching up to 70cm seen in several coastal communities.
But what actually is a megaquake? Read more here...
What is a megaquake? Japan issues warning for disaster that could kills thousands
Magnitude 6.6 and 5.1 earthquakes recorded in the hours following 7.5 magnitude earthquake
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:31 , Alex CroftSmaller aftershocks continued today in northern and central Japan, hours after the 7.5-magnitude earthquake on Monday night.
According to the US Geological Survey, a magnitude 6.6 aftershock struck within hours of the initial earthquake, followed by another measuring magnitude 5.1.
In the less than 24 hours since the earthquake, at least 10 aftershocks of magnitude 1.5 or higher have been recorded in Japan.
Aftershocks were felt across a wide area of northern and central Japan, according to NHK Japan.
Residents describe fear during late-night Japan earthquake - ICYMI
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:00 , Alex CroftIn the aftermath of the powerful late-night quake, residents across northeastern Japan recounted moments of fear as they rushed to safety in cold conditions.
Many were jolted awake by the violent shaking, including a man in his 40s from Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.
He told Japan’s Mainichi: “I was asleep when shaking began as if I suddenly got hit from beneath. After that, shaking continued both vertically and laterally for a long time.”
In nearby Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, a 75-year-old woman preparing for bed fled to higher ground in a car driven by her daughter.
“I debated whether I should leave. I was afraid of a bear popping up, my husband needs care and we have a cat.”
Japan urges public to rely on government sources for information related to earthquakes
Tuesday 9 December 2025 18:29 , Alex CroftChief cabinet secretary Kihara Minoru has urged the public to rely on official government sources and trusted media outlets for updates on earthquakes.
He told reporters that misinformation often spreads quickly during times of crisis, creating confusion among people.
In response to the current situation, the Japanese government has activated a task force at the crisis management centre in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Japan witnessed more than 10 aftershocks in the hours following the massive earthquake late on Monday night.
Authorities have urged people to stay vigilant for the possibility of a megaquake in the next seven days.
A megaquake could cause a 98-foot tsunami and kill nearly 200,000
Tuesday 9 December 2025 18:00 , Alex CroftJapanese government estimates have laid bare the scale of damage which a megaquake could cause in Japan.
Another offshore megaquake in the Hokkaido-Sanriku area could cause up to a 30-meter (98-foot) tsunami in the region, kill as many as 199,000 people, destroy up to 220,000 houses and buildings, and cause estimated economic damages of up to 31 trillion yen ($198 billion).
The government says as many as 42,000 people could suffer from hypothermia in the winter.
The areas covered by the advisory extend across 182 municipalities from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture.
Japan's separate advisory for an even more damaging megaquake stemming from the Nankai Trough, which affects the southern half of Japan's Pacific coast, was activated for the first time last August after a magnitude 7.1 quake occurred off the eastern coast of Miyazaki.
In a 2013 damage estimate for a possible Nankai Trough megaquake, the government said a magnitude 9.1 quake could generate a tsunami exceeding 10 meters (33 feet) within minutes, killing as many as 323,000 people, destroying more than 2 million buildings and causing economic damage exceeding 200 trillion yen ($1.28 trillion) in the region.
Watch: Animation shows 7.5 magnitude earthquake striking Japan's coast, triggering tsunami warning
Tuesday 9 December 2025 17:29 , Alex CroftRecap: Japan issues a megaquake advisory
Tuesday 9 December 2025 17:01 , Alex CroftThe Japan Meteorological Agency says Monday's powerful quake temporarily increased potential risks in the regions of Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast.
That's where the Pacific Plate beneath Japan forms the two trenches — the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench — that have caused many large quakes in the past.
Experts say the deadly quake and tsunami in 2011 was caused by movement associated with the Japan Trench. It spans from off the eastern coast of Chiba to Aomori, and the Chishima Trench goes from the eastern coast of Hokkaido to the northern islands and the Kurils.
In explaining the advisory, the JMA said the magnitude 9.0 quake on 11 March 2011, that devastated large swaths of Japan's northern coast occurred two days after a magnitude 7.3 temblor that occurred at the Japan Trench off the eastern coast of Iwate, one of the hardest-hit areas in that disaster as well as in Monday's quake.
The 2011 quake caused a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.
The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, slammed into and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. That created deep fears of radiation that linger to this day.
How long will Japan be on megaquake alert?
Tuesday 9 December 2025 16:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarFollowing Monday’s magnitude 7.5 earthquake off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued its first special advisory for potential follow-up earthquakes and tsunamis in the Hokkaido and Sanriku coastal areas.
According to local media outlets, the government recommends that people remain on alert for about a week.
The risk of additional quakes and tsunamis is highest immediately after the initial major quake and gradually decreases over time.
While the one-week period is not based on precise scientific data, it serves as a guideline for heightened vigilance, The Japan Times noted.
Authorities have said that there is no need to stop daily activities, but residents should double-check their usual earthquake preparations during this period.
The advisory is officially called the “Off the Coast of Hokkaido and Sanriku Subsequent Earthquake Advisory”.
Nuclear power stations unscathed, officials say
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:58 , Maroosha MuzaffarDespite the strong earthquake, officials reported no major damage to infrastructure, and Japan’s network of nuclear power stations showed no signs of irregularities after the quake.
The International Atomic Energy Agency added reassurance in a post on X, noting that Tokyo had informed the agency that all nuclear facilities – including the Fukushima Daiichi site – were operating normally.
The IAEA has been informed by Japan that there are no abnormalities so far at the Fukushima NPP site following the earthquake and tsunami advisory in Japan; discharge of ALPS treated water has been temporarily suspended at 11:42 pm local time today as a precautionary step. pic.twitter.com/bNJef2nhhW
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) December 8, 2025
As an added safety step, the plant temporarily paused its release of treated wastewater, but the IAEA said this was a precautionary measure rather than a response to any detected problem.
Aomori quake produced slow, powerful seismic waves
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:32 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe earthquake on Monday struck at around 11.15pm local time and generated tremors strong enough to produce what are known as long-period ground motions (LPGMs), slow, powerful seismic waves that are amplified over long distances.
LPGMs can be particularly dangerous because they resonate with tall buildings, causing them to sway violently.
In some areas of Aomori Prefecture, the shaking was strong enough that it became difficult for people in tall buildings to remain standing.
Authorities initially issued tsunami warnings for Iwate Prefecture and parts of Hokkaido and Aomori, which were later downgraded to advisories.
All advisories were lifted by 6.20am today.
Japanese government warns megaquake could kill 300,000 and halve GDP
Tuesday 9 December 2025 15:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarJapan on Tuesday issued its first-ever alert warning that a megaquake could follow the previous night’s 7.5-magnitude offshore earthquake as authorities cautioned that the coming days would be critical for coastal regions facing an elevated risk of aftershocks.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said there was an increased possibility of an earthquake of magnitude 8 or stronger along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench, marking its first activation ever of the top-tier alert since the system was introduced in 2022.
The alert covers a broad stretch of the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Chiba.
Authorities urged the public to review evacuation routes, secure heavy furniture, and prepare emergency supplies, stressing that communities should remain “vigilant through next week” even in the absence of any evacuation order.
The earthquake on Monday struck at around 11.15pm local time, about 50 miles off the coast of Aomori, and generated tremors strong enough to produce “long-period ground motions”, slow swinging waves that left high-rise buildings swaying violently.
Read more here:
Japanese government warns megaquake could kill 300,000 and halve GDP
Watch: Moment powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake hit Japan
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:41 , Maroosha MuzaffarWhere in Japan would a potential megaquake strike?
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:19 , Maroosha MuzaffarJapan’s Meteorological Agency warned today that a megaquake of magnitude 8 or higher could strike along the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench off Hokkaido.
The agency has issued its first-ever alert of this kind, covering coastal areas from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture.
Officials have urged residents to check evacuation routes, secure furniture, and prepare emergency supplies, including food, water, and portable toilets.
Although they have not ordered evacuations, they advised people to remain vigilant through next week.
Morikubo Tsukasa, director of disaster management at the Cabinet Office, told reporters that global earthquake data indicates a possibility, not a prediction, of a larger tremor.
Is it safe to travel to Japan? Megaquake warning sparked by 7.5-magnitude tremor
Tuesday 9 December 2025 14:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarJapan’s weather agency has warned that another large-scale earthquake could follow the 7.5-magnitude tremor which hit the country on Monday.
The earthquake has left at least 33 people injured and led to tsunami warnings.
All tsunami alerts have been lifted, yet the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned that powerful earthquakes could follow the tremor, calling on people to be on alert for at least a week.
Train services were temporarily suspended, traffic jams were reported, and flights were cancelled at New Chitose airport following the quake.
Here is the latest travel advice and what you need to know following the large earthquake in northern Japan:
Is it safe to travel to Japan? Advice following a 7.5-magnitude earthquake
Expert says do not ignore possibility of a megaquake
Tuesday 9 December 2025 13:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarJapanese authorities estimate that there is a 1 per cent chance of a massive earthquake occurring within the next week.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued its highest-level warning that a megaquake could follow yesterday’s 7.5-magnitude tremor.
Authorities urged anyone living near the Pacific coast to remain vigilant throughout the coming week and to prepare evacuation plans in case they need to flee their homes.
Professor Sekiya Naoya of the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School warns that if such a disaster were to strike, up to 200,000 lives could be at risk.
According to NHK Japan, he urged the public not to ignore this possibility, and added that the Japan Meteorological Agency’s advisory should serve as a reminder to review emergency plans and preparedness measures.
Japan urges public to rely on government sources for information related to earthquakes
Tuesday 9 December 2025 13:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarChief cabinet secretary Kihara Minoru has urged the public to rely on official government sources and trusted media outlets for updates on earthquakes.
He told reporters that misinformation often spreads quickly during times of crisis, creating confusion among people.
This video from inside a house shows the exact moment Japan was rocked by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake pic.twitter.com/WiLcib30F1
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) December 9, 2025
In response to the current situation, the Japanese government has activated a task force at the crisis management centre in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Japan witnessed more than 10 aftershocks in the hours following the massive earthquake late on Monday night.
Authorities have urged people to stay vigilant for the possibility of a megaquake in the next seven days.
Residents describe fear during late-night Japan earthquake
Tuesday 9 December 2025 12:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarIn the aftermath of the powerful late-night quake, residents across northeastern Japan recounted moments of fear as they rushed to safety in cold conditions.
Many were jolted awake by the violent shaking, including a man in his 40s from Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.
He told Japan’s Mainichi: “I was asleep when shaking began as if I suddenly got hit from beneath. After that, shaking continued both vertically and laterally for a long time.”
In nearby Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, a 75-year-old woman preparing for bed fled to higher ground in a car driven by her daughter.
“I debated whether I should leave. I was afraid of a bear popping up, my husband needs care and we have a cat.”
PM Takaichi urges residents to take ‘disaster-prevention measures’ amid megaquake fears
Tuesday 9 December 2025 12:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarPrime minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters today: “Due to the earthquake, the likelihood of a major earthquake occurring in the Hokkaido to the Sanriku offshore region is assessed to be higher than during normal times.”
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a warning for Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast, including Aomori, Miyagi, and Iwate, advising residents to stay alert for possible larger quakes in the coming days.
Takaichi urged people to take disaster-prevention measures. “While fully understanding that it remains uncertain whether a major earthquake will actually occur, please take appropriate disaster-prevention measures based on the principle that you are responsible for protecting your own life,” she was quoted as saying by The Japan Times.
Takaichi urged residents to continue their day-to-day activities but asked them to remain vigilant for updates from Japan’s weather agency and local officials, while reviewing and reinforcing their evacuation plans in case a larger earthquake occurs.
Magnitude 6.6 and 5.1 earthquakes recorded in the hours following 7.5 magnitude earthquake
Tuesday 9 December 2025 11:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarSmaller aftershocks continued today in northern and central Japan, hours after the 7.5-magnitude earthquake.
According to the US Geological Survey, a magnitude 6.6 aftershock struck within hours of the initial earthquake, followed by another measuring magnitude 5.1.
In the less than 24 hours since Monday night’s earthquake, at least 10 aftershocks of magnitude 1.5 or higher have been recorded in Japan.
Aftershocks were felt across a wide area of northern and central Japan, according to NHK Japan.
More than 100 schools closed today in Aomori prefecture
Tuesday 9 December 2025 11:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarThis morning, Japan’s ministry of education reported that 139 public schools in Aomori Prefecture remained closed due to the effects of the earthquake.
Authorities have not yet confirmed any injuries among students.
At least 33 people were hurt in the powerful quake yesterday night and the prime minister Sanae Takaichi cautioned that similar or even stronger tremors could strike Pacific coastal areas in the next one week or so.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued its first top-tier alert for a possible megaquake within the next seven days.
Japan warns megaquake could bring 3-metre tsunamis
Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarJapan’s authorities issued a new advisory warning of the threat of a possible megaquake in the aftermath of yesterday’s 7.5-magnitude tremor.
Effective for 182 municipalities across seven prefectures, primarily along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture, the warning says stronger aftershocks or tsunamis up to 3 metres could occur, and is in effect until 16 December.
While the advisory does not mandate evacuations, it does urge heightened vigilance.
“Some people may feel confused by this first-of-its-kind advisory, but we ask everyone to calmly prepare for the possibility of another earthquake,” a Cabinet Office official said, according to The Asahi Shimbun.
“Essentially, social and economic activities will continue, so schools and public transportation should operate as usual.”
Tremors were felt across a wide area from Hokkaido to the western Kinki region, with the strongest intensities in Aomori, leading to temporary suspension of Tohoku Shinkansen services, school closures, and water outages in about 1,360 households, authorities said.
Tsunami warnings issued after the main quake were downgraded and lifted by early morning today.
Transport services disrupted due to earthquake
Tuesday 9 December 2025 10:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarTransport services were partially disrupted on Tuesday after a massive earthquake struck northeastern Japan, local reports said.
East Japan Railway Company has suspended Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train services between Morioka and Shin-Aomori stations.
The company is conducting inspections for potential track damage and aims to resume operations by 3.00pm local time today.
Both All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) reported that flights are operating as usual starting Tuesday, with no major disruptions.
Japan’s megaquake probability was raised earlier this year
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarJapan’s weather agency issued its highest-level warning that a megaquake could follow Monday’s 7.5-magnitude tremor.
Earlier this year, the Japanese government’s earthquake panel raised the probability of a “megaquake” (magnitude 8 or higher) occurring within the next 30 years to over 80 per cent, up from a previous estimate of 70–80 per cent.
The most likely location is the Nankai Trough, an 800km undersea trench off Japan’s Pacific coast, where such a quake could cause widespread destruction and trigger a major tsunami.
Officials stress that this probability means a megaquake could occur at any time.
Megaquakes in the Nankai Trough have occurred every 100 to 200 years over the past 1,400 years, with the most recent one recorded in 1946, according to Japan’s Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion.
The earthquake, which was felt throughout Japan, destroyed 36,000 houses in the southern part of Honshu alone.
Japan hit by at least 10 aftershocks in less than 24 hours
Tuesday 9 December 2025 09:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarIn the less than 24 hours since Monday night’s earthquake, at least 10 aftershocks of magnitude 1.5 or higher have been recorded in Japan.
Aftershocks were felt across a wide area of northern and central Japan, according to NHK Japan.
The strongest tremors – of intensity 4 – were reported in parts of Aomori (Hiranai, Hachinohe, Noheji, Gonohe, Aomori-Nambu) and Iwate (Morioka, Hachimantai, Iwate).
Aftershocks of intensity 3 shook Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, and Hokkaido, while intensity 2 tremors reached towns and cities across Aomori, Iwate, Hokkaido, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Saitama, and Niigata.
Over the past week, an additional 15 quakes have been reported, while 88 earthquakes have shaken the country during the last 30 days, according to earthquaketrack.com.
Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, sitting on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area of heightened seismic activity.
In pictures: Aftermath of Japan’s 7.5-magnitude earthquake
Tuesday 9 December 2025 08:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar Recap of the earthquake and tsunami on Monday
Tuesday 9 December 2025 00:30 , Shaheena UddinJapan was hit by a earthquake and tsunami on Monday at 11.15pm local time (2.15pm UK time) injuring 23 people.
The prime minister urged people to “evacuate immediately” in certain areas affected.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.6, according to initial estimates.
Tsunami warnings were issued across three prefectures which affected around 90,000 residents.
Tsunamis between 30cm to highs of 70cm hit coastal communities across Japan.
The warnings have been since downgraded to an ‘advisory’, but there is an increased risk of a ‘megaquake’ in the coming days.
