BREAKING: Massive 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan’s North-East

written by a member of the WCB

URGENT: Tsunami Warnings Issued, Mass Evacuations Underway

Key Details

• Magnitude: 7.5 on the seismic scale

• Location: Off the coast of Aomori prefecture

• Time: December 8, 2025

Immediate Impact

• Evacuations: Approximately 90,000 residents ordered to evacuate

• Injuries: 23 people reported injured, one seriously

• Tsunami Warnings: Issued for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures

• Tsunami Heights: Ranging from 20 to 70 cm at various coastal ports

Eyewitness Accounts

Satoshi Kato, a high school vice-principal, described the terrifying moments:

• Glasses and bowls shattered during the quake

• Massive traffic jams as people attempted to flee

• Evacuation centers being prepared

Emergency Response

• Military Deployment: 18 defense helicopters mobilized for damage assessment

• Shelter Locations:

• 480 residents taking shelter at Hachinohe airbase

• 200 passengers stranded at New Chitose airport

Seismic Context

The earthquake registered as an “upper six” on Japan’s one-to-seven seismic intensity scale, powerful enough to:

• Make standing impossible

• Cause heavy furniture to collapse

• Damage wall tiles and windowpanes

Critical Infrastructure

• Transportation: East Japan Railway suspended some services

• Power: Thousands without electricity

• Nuclear Facilities: No reported irregularities at local power plants

Background

Japan, located in the “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent earthquakes, accounting for approximately 20% of the world’s magnitude 6.0 or greater seismic events.

UPDATES TO FOLLOW