A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Japan’s Aomori Prefecture late Monday, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred around 11:15 pm (local time) at a depth of 54 kilometers, producing tremors felt across the region. The USGS reported the epicentre at 40.112°N, 142.889°E, while Xinhua News Agency initially noted coordinates of 37.37°N, 141.78°E. The quake caused long-period ground motions, generating slow, wide-swinging seismic waves that significantly affected high-rise buildings in parts of Aomori Prefecture.
No immediate damage or casualties were reported. The city of Hachinohe reported tremors reaching an intensity of upper 6 on Japan’s 0–7 scale.
Tsunami Warnings And Precautions
Initially, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami warnings for parts of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate, which were later downgraded to advisories. All warnings were lifted by 6:20 am Tuesday. No evacuations were ordered, but officials urged residents to remain vigilant, secure household furniture, check evacuation routes, and prepare emergency kits with food, water, and essentials.
Japan remains alert due to the potential for a larger tremor. Earlier this month, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northeastern Japan, demonstrating the region’s seismic activity. Morikubo Tsukasa, director for disaster management at the Cabinet Office, noted that global earthquake data indicate a possibility of a major tremor along the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench, though this is not a prediction.
The advisory spans areas from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture and is the first since the introduction of the mega-quake warning category in 2022. Authorities are encouraging residents to stay alert through the coming week and ensure emergency preparedness.