A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, prompting a tsunami advisory that was lifted Tuesday morning. Thirty injuries and one residential fire were confirmed, as the government rushes to assess damage and conduct rescues. Warnings of aftershocks and an elevated risk of a megaquake persist.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture around 11:15 p.m. on December 8, 2025. The epicenter was about 80 kilometers northeast of Hachinohe at a depth of approximately 50 kilometers, registering upper 6 intensity on the Japanese seismic scale in Hachinohe and lower 6 in areas like Oirase and Hashikami. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for coastal areas in Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures, with waves up to 70 centimeters recorded at Kuji port in Iwate and 50 centimeters in other coastal communities. The advisory was lifted at 6:20 a.m. on December 9.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters Tuesday morning that 30 injuries and one residential fire had been confirmed following the quake. Other reports mentioned 23 injuries, indicating a slight discrepancy in figures. Most injuries resulted from falling objects, including several at a hotel in Hachinohe and a man whose car fell into a hole in Tohoku. The government established an emergency task force at the Prime Minister’s Office to prioritize human life, assess damage, and conduct search-and-rescue operations. Takaichi stated, “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can.”
East Japan Railway Co. suspended Tohoku Shinkansen services in both directions between Morioka and Shin-Aomori stations starting Tuesday morning for equipment inspections, expecting resumption around 3 p.m. About 800 homes lost power in Hokkaido and Tohoku but restoration was complete by 5 a.m. Nuclear facilities reported no abnormalities; a minor spill of 450 liters of water occurred at the Rokkasho reprocessing plant in Aomori, but levels remained normal with no safety concerns. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi directed the Self-Defense Forces to spare no effort in information gathering and rescues, with helicopters and jets already deployed.
The agency cautioned about possible aftershocks and a slight increase in the risk of a magnitude 8 quake and tsunami along Japan's northeastern coast from Chiba to Hokkaido, urging preparedness in 182 municipalities. This event occurred north of the area devastated by the 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. Convenience store owner Nobuo Yamada in Hachinohe told NHK, “I’ve never experienced such a big shaking,” noting that power lines remained operational.
