7.5-Magnitude Earthquake Off Japan's Coast Triggers Tsunami Alert

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 struck off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at approximately 4:53 p.m. local time on April 20, 2026. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the quake occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers below the sea surface.

Following the earthquake, the JMA issued a tsunami alert for the region, warning of potential waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) high. A tsunami measuring approximately 80 centimeters (2.6 feet) was observed at Kuji port in Iwate Prefecture, with a smaller 40-centimeter (1.3-foot) wave recorded at another port in the same prefecture.

Authorities urged residents to evacuate coastal and riverside areas and seek higher ground. Non-binding evacuation advisories were issued to residents in 11 towns within Iwate Prefecture. The tsunami alert extended to Aomori and southeastern Hokkaido, with milder advisories for the coasts of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

The JMA also cautioned about the possibility of aftershocks for approximately a week following the initial quake.

This event occurs 15 years after the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, which resulted in over 22,000 deaths and significant displacement, particularly due to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.