Japan Assesses Damage After 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake; Tsunami Hits Northern Coast

Japan is assessing damages and urging vigilance after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck late Monday night (December 8–9, 2025), triggering a tsunami and causing injuries and disruptions across northern Pacific coastal regions.

Casualties & Damage

• 33 people injured, including one seriously, mainly due to falling objects (Fire and Disaster Management Agency).

• Tsunami waves up to 70 cm recorded at Kuji port, Iwate; waves of 50 cm reached other areas, damaging some oyster farming rafts.

• Around 800 homes initially lost electricity; power largely restored by morning (Tohoku Electric Power Co).

• Shinkansen bullet trains and multiple local train services were suspended; East Japan Railway aims to resume them later Tuesday.

• 200 passengers stranded at New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido; part of the terminal ceiling collapsed.

Government Response

• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi activated an emergency task force, saying the government is “putting people's lives first.”

• Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi deployed 18 helicopters for assessment; 480 residents sheltered at Hachinohe Air Base.

Nuclear Safety

• At the Rokkasho fuel reprocessing plant, about 450 litres of water spilled from a spent-fuel cooling area—no safety risk reported.

• The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed no abnormalities at other nuclear facilities.

Earthquake Details

• The quake struck at 11:15 p.m., about 80 km off Aomori’s coast.

• USGS measured it at 7.6 magnitude, depth 44 km.

• The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) lifted all tsunami advisories by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Aftershocks & Risk Advisory

• Multiple aftershocks recorded: M6.6 and M5.1 (USGS).

• JMA warns of possible strong aftershocks in coming days.

• Slightly increased risk of a magnitude 8-level earthquake from Chiba to Hokkaido—a caution, not a prediction.

• 182 municipalities advised to review emergency preparedness.

Context

The quake occurred near the region devastated by the 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami, which killed nearly 20,000 people.

JMA official Satoshi Harada reminded residents:
“You need to prepare, assuming that a disaster like that could happen again.”