A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan late Monday night, generating tsunami waves and causing widespread disruption. The quake occurred on December 8, 2025, at 11:15 p.m. local time (JST), with its epicenter located off the coast of Aomori prefecture at a depth of approximately 53 kilometers (33 miles).

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) immediately issued tsunami warnings for the Pacific coasts of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures, cautioning that waves could reach heights of up to 3 meters (10 feet). Tsunami advisories were also issued for Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Approximately 90,000 residents in coastal areas were advised to evacuate to higher ground or designated shelters.

Observed tsunami waves were smaller than the maximum warnings, with the highest reaching 70 cm (28 inches) at Kuji port in Iwate prefecture. Smaller waves were recorded in other areas, including Urakawa in Hokkaido and the cities of Mutsu and Hachinohe in Aomori prefecture.

The earthquake registered a maximum intensity of "upper 6" on Japan's Shindo seismic scale in the city of Hachinohe, indicating severe shaking that makes it difficult to stand and can cause significant structural damage. The tremors lasted for over 30 seconds and were felt as far away as Tokyo. A notable aftershock with a magnitude of 5.5 was reported shortly after the main quake, and authorities have warned residents to remain vigilant for more seismic activity in the coming days.

Several injuries have been reported, primarily due to falls during the intense shaking. In Hachinohe, people were reportedly hurt at a hotel, and in a separate incident, a man's car fell into a large hole that opened in a road. Fires were also reported in Aomori city, and structural damages, including shattered windows and ground heaves, were seen in Hachinohe.

The quake caused immediate disruptions to public services. East Japan Railway Co. suspended services on the Tōhoku Shinkansen bullet train line between Fukushima and Shin-Aomori stations for safety checks. Power outages affected thousands of households across Aomori prefecture, though utility companies worked quickly to restore electricity.

Officials confirmed that no abnormalities were detected at nuclear power plants in the region, including those in the prefectures under tsunami advisories.

The Japanese government has established a task force to manage the response and coordinate relief efforts. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's office is collecting information to assess the full extent of the damage and provide necessary assistance to the affected areas.