General News

M7.5 Earthquake Hits Northern Japan; Tsunami Waves Observed in Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate Prefectures

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that hit northern Japan, travelers appear at a loss about what to do at JR Sapporo Station at 11:52 p.m. on Monday.

The Japan News

23:40 JST, December 8, 2025

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred off the east coast of Aomori Prefecture around at 11:15 p.m. on Monday. Tsunami warnings are in effect for coastal regions in Aomori, Iwate and Hokkaido prefectures.

An upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 was recorded in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, a lower 6 in Oirase and Hashikami in the prefecture and an upper 5 in Noheji and other areas in the prefecture, as well as Hakodate, Hokkaido, and Karumai, Iwate Prefecture.

The Yomiuri Shimbun
People in cars evacuate to an elementary school in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, at 11:42 p.m. on Monday.

The Yomiuri Shimbun
People are seen at the Hachinohe city office in Aomori Prefecture after they evacuated following a strong earthquake at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The first tsunami reached Muroran Port in Hokkaido at 11:19 p.m. on Monday and Urakawa at 11:38 p.m., both recording a maximum height of 40 centimeters.

A 50-centimeter tsunami was observed at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture at 12:09 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Three-meter-high tsunami waves were expected to reach the central Pacific coast of Hokkaido, and the Pacific coasts of Aomori and Iwate prefectures.

A tsunami advisory was issued for the east and west Pacific coasts of Hokkaido, and for the coasts of the Sea of Japan in Aomori, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

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