On the afternoon of April 20th, an earthquake struck in the northeastern sea of Japan, with the magnitude upgraded from 7.4 to 7.5, and an intensity of 5 strong. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami warning, with no reports of casualties so far, but some Shinkansen services have been temporarily suspended.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the earthquake occurred at around 4:53 PM local time on the 20th, with the epicenter located at 39.8 degrees north latitude and 143.2 degrees east longitude, at a depth of about 10 kilometers. The agency also cautioned residents in the affected area to remain vigilant for the risk of earthquakes of similar magnitude in the next week, particularly in the next 2 to 3 days.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami warnings for Iwate Prefecture, Hokkaido, and parts of Aomori Prefecture, with tsunami heights expected to reach up to 3 meters.
As of now, a tsunami measuring 80 centimeters was observed at Kujigawa Port in Iwate Prefecture at 5:34 PM, with water levels still rising; Miyakogawa Port in Iwate Prefecture also reported a 40 centimeter tsunami, while Hachinohe Port in Aomori Prefecture observed a 30 centimeter tsunami, and Urahoro Town in Hokkaido and Ayukawa in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture observed a 20 centimeter tsunami.
Around 5:30 PM, the police in Iwate Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, and Hokkaido have not confirmed any damage caused by the earthquake.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency, as of 6 PM on the 20th, evacuation instructions have been issued to a total of 156,471 people in Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures.
Reportedly, due to the earthquake, Shinkansen train services in Aomori Prefecture, located at the northern tip of Honshu Island in Japan, have been suspended.
Tokyo Electric Power Company has confirmed that there are no abnormalities at the Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini nuclear power plants. The operator also stated that radiation levels around the plant sites have not changed. Further north, Tohoku Electric Power announced that the Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant in Aomori Prefecture and the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant in Miyagi Prefecture also have no abnormalities.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takai, in an interview with reporters, mentioned that the government has established an emergency task force and is urging residents in the affected areas to evacuate to safety.