A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, injuring 23 people and triggering small tsunamis along the Pacific coast.
The quake hit at around 11:15 p.m. about 80 kilometers off Aomori, causing strong shaking across nearby prefectures.
Waves as high as 70 centimeters were recorded in Kuji port, while other coastal towns reported tsunamis of up to 50 centimeters, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Most of the injured were hit by falling objects, including hotel guests in Hachinohe. One man was hurt when his car fell into a hole. Power was cut to about 800 homes, and bullet trains and several local rail lines were suspended. Officials also said around 200 passengers were stranded overnight at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido.
Authorities urged residents in affected areas to move to higher ground until advisories were lifted.
More than 480 people took shelter at the Hachinohe Air Base, and 18 military helicopters were deployed to assess damage. Nuclear facilities in the region reported no major issues, though water spilled from a cooling tank at one plant.
The meteorological agency warned of possible strong aftershocks and said the risk of another major quake along Japan’s northeastern coast remains elevated.
