The quake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 occurred off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at around 4:53 p.m. (0753 GMT), at a depth of about 10km (6 miles) below the sea surface, the agency said.<\/p>\n
Japan\u2019s NHK public television said a tsunami of up to 3 meters (10 feet) could hit the area shortly.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.47 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Evacuation warning for people living close to affected areas<\/p>\n Those living near the coastal areas of Japan<\/a> where the tsunami is expected to hit are advised to evacuate immediately, Japanese broadcaster NHK has reported.<\/p>\n In a warning, it said:<\/p>\n double quotation markTsunami waves are approaching the coasts. Evacuate as quickly as possible. Waves can hit repeatedly. Continue to evacuate until all warnings are lifted.<\/p>\n NKH added in its report:<\/p>\n double quotation markIf you are in the affected areas, keep away from coasts and river mouths which could overflow. Continue to evacuate until all advisories are lifted.<\/p>\n It said that while there may be some changes to the sea level, \u201cthere is no threat of tsunami damage,\u201d adding:<\/p>\n double quotation markPeople in the affected areas must evacuate immediately. Escape to a higher, safe location right away.The time of the tsunami\u2019s arrival is just an estimate.<\/p>\n Waves could actually arrive sooner or later. Continue to evacuate as long as the warning is in place.<\/p>\n Waves can get much higher than expected.<\/p>\n 7.5 magnitude earthquake jolts northeastern Japan Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n There is no tsunami threat to Australia, according to a notice issued by the country\u2019s Bureau of Meteorology.<\/p>\n Posted this morning, the bureau said<\/a>:<\/p>\n double quotation markAn undersea earthquake of magnitude 7.5 has occurred at 5:52 PM AEST on Monday<\/p>\n 20 April 2026 near OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN.<\/p>\n THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO THE AUSTRALIAN MAINLAND, ISLANDS OR TERRITORIES.<\/p>\n It added that it would not provide any further updates unless the situation changes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Tsunami waves observed in several areas Authorities in Japan<\/a> are urging people living near the country\u2019s north-east coast to evacuate to higher ground after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake triggered a tsunami alert, writes our Tokyo correspondent, Justin McCurry, with waves forecast to reach heights of three metres.<\/p>\n Tsunami waves have been observed in several areas, prompting warnings and advisories in Fukushima, Iwate and Aomori prefectures, as well as the northernmost main island of Hokkaido.<\/p>\n The public broadcaster NHK showed live footage of sections of coastline, with announcers repeatedly urging people to flee before darkness fell.<\/p>\n The earthquake, which struck offshore at a depth of 10km shortly before 5pm local time, recorded an upper-5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7, meaning the shaking was strong enough to make movement difficult without support and to topple furniture.<\/p>\n It has been 15 years since the same region was devastated by a magnitude-9 earthquake that set off a tsunami and a triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The disaster killed almost 20,000 people, most of whom were swept away by the tsunami.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s 15 years since the much more powerful magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, ravaged parts of northern Japan<\/a>. As Associated Press reports, it caused almost 20,000 deaths and forced nearly half a million people to flee their homes.<\/p>\n Some 160,000 people fled their homes in Fukushima because of the radiation spewed from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. About 26,000 of them haven\u2019t returned because they resettled elsewhere, their hometowns remain off-limits or they have lingering concerns about radiation.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.09 EDT<\/p>\n There are no nuclear power plants currently in operation in Hokkaido and Tohoku regions but Hokkaido Electric Power Co and Tohoku Electric Power Co have a number of shutdown nuclear power plants there.<\/p>\n Tohoku Electric said it was checking the impact of the earthquake and tsunami on its Onagawa nuclear power plant.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>People in affected areas urged to evacuate<\/p>\n The strength of the earthquake has been revised up to 7.5 and the biggest waves due to the tsunami are expected in Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido prefectures, authorities said.<\/p>\n Reuters reported that prime minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up an emergency task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety.<\/p>\n Broadcaster NHK showed ships sailing out of Hachinohe port in Hokkaido in anticipation of the waves, as an alert \u2019Tsunami! Evacuate!\u2019 flashed across the screen.<\/p>\n Bullet train services in Aomori at the northern tip of Japan\u2019s main Honshu island were halted due to the tremors, Kyodo news agency reported.<\/p>\n Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to media after the tsunami alert Photograph: KYODO\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.16 EDT<\/p>\n Tsunami alert issued after powerful quake off northern Japan<\/p>\n A powerful earthquake has struck off the northern Japanese coast, and the Japan<\/a> Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami alert in the region.<\/p>\n The quake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 occurred off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at around 4:53 p.m. (0753 GMT), at a depth of about 10km (6 miles) below the sea surface, the agency said.<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s NHK public television said a tsunami of up to 3 meters (10 feet) could hit the area shortly.<\/p>\n![\"Justin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776678848_809_Justin_McCurry,_L.png\")
Justin McCurry<\/p>\n