A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off Japan’s northern coast on Monday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami alert for parts of Hokkaido and Aomori, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency NBC News Yahoo News UK. The quake, which hit at a depth of roughly 30–50 kilometres, triggered warnings of waves up to 3 metres (10 feet) along the coastline.
Initial reports indicated that a 40‑centimetre tsunami reached the Hokkaido town of Urakawa, while smaller waves were recorded in nearby coastal areas Yahoo News UK. Officials urged residents in low‑lying zones to move to higher ground as aftershocks remained possible.
Public broadcaster NHK reported that nuclear power plants in the region were conducting safety checks, though no abnormalities were immediately detected NBC News Yahoo News UK. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said an emergency task force had been activated to assess damage and coordinate response efforts Yahoo News UK.
Japan sits on the seismically active Ring of Fire and experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, though major quakes capable of generating tsunamis remain a significant national concern. Authorities said the situation was still developing as assessments continued across the affected prefectures.
