A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, injuring at least 30 people and cutting power to thousands in freezing temperatures.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the quake, recorded off Aomori Prefecture, triggered tsunami waves up to 70cm and warned of possible strong aftershocks over the next week.
Residents described the shaking as violent and prolonged. One person was seriously injured in Hokkaido, while footage showed cracked roads, fallen items in stores and a vehicle trapped in a sinkhole. A house fire was also reported.
Around 28,000 people were advised to evacuate when tsunami alerts of up to 3 metres were issued, though the warnings were later lifted. Power outages affected about 2,700 homes, and bullet-train services were briefly suspended for safety checks. No issues were found at the Higashidori and Onagawa nuclear plants.
Japan, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent seismic activity. Authorities noted that while major quakes rarely lead to larger follow-up events, caution is still advised.
