Japan lifts tsunami advisories after powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake hits northern coast

Japan was rattled by a massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake late Monday, 8 December, prompting tsunami alerts, halting nuclear wastewater discharge, and leaving at least 30 people injured, according to multiple government and media sources.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the quake struck at 11:15 pm local time off the northern coast near Hokkaido and Aomori, with the epicenter located about 50 km below the seabed. The agency initially reported the quake as magnitude 7.6 before revising it to 7.5, noted multiple outlets.

Tsunami warnings were issued across northeastern prefectures, with expected waves of up to 10 feet. Authorities also suspended the release of treated radioactive wastewater at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant as a precaution.


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Tsunami advisory withdrawn

By early Tuesday, the JMA lifted all tsunami advisories, saying the immediate danger had passed. Many coastal areas in Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate, which were initially under warnings, were later shifted to advisories before being fully withdrawn.

No nuclear abnormalities detected

According to updates from local officials and reporting by Bloomberg, no abnormalities or damage were detected at any nuclear facilities in the affected region. The Fukushima plant halted all discharge operations immediately after the warning. Local authorities confirmed that at least 30 people were injured across northern Japan. The quake damaged roads and left thousands without power overnight in freezing temperatures, AFP reported.

Japan’s ring of fire

Japan is highly prone to powerful earthquakes, as it sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for intense seismic and volcanic activity. One of the country’s most devastating disasters occurred in 2011, when a 9.1-magnitude Tohoku earthquake triggered a massive tsunami and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis.

The 2011 disaster left more than 22,000 people dead or missing and caused catastrophic reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima plant, releasing widespread radioactive contamination and reshaping Japan’s disaster-preparedness policies.