Tsunami Warning Issued as Magnitude 6.7 Quake Strikes Off Japan’s Northeast Coast

A tsunami advisory has been issued for Japan’s northeastern region following a strong preliminary magnitude 6.7 earthquake that struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture on Friday, December 12.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued the advisory after the quake hit at 11:44am local time (02:44 GMT) at a depth of 20km (12.4 miles). The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also measured the tremor at 6.7.

No Immediate Nuclear Issues Reported

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed there were no immediate signs of abnormalities at the region’s nuclear facilities.

The current quake follows a more powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake that hit the same region on Monday, December 9, 2025. National broadcaster NHK reported that the level of shaking from today’s 6.7 event was less severe than the earlier, bigger tremor.

The Monday quake caused significant damage, tearing apart roads, smashing windows, and triggering tsunami waves of up to 70 centimetres (2.3ft).

Previous Damage and Injuries

Following Monday’s magnitude 7.5 earthquake:

• It left at least 30 people injured, according to authorities on December 9. The full text also indicates a separate reference to an injury count of at least 50 people following Monday’s quake.
• The event damaged roads and left thousands without power in freezing temperatures.
• A torii gate at the entrance of Yasaka Shrine in Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture was seen to have collapsed onto a sidewalk on December 9, 2025.
• The JMA had issued a rare special advisory warning to residents across a wide area to be on alert for an increased possibility of a powerful earthquake hitting again within a week.

Disaster Preparations Underway

Amid the continued seismic activity and fear of a “megaquake,” NHK reported on Thursday, December 11, that people in the northeast of Japan were stocking up on disaster-related goods such as torches, water storage tanks, and support poles to prevent furniture from toppling.

One shop in Hokkaido’s Hakodate city reported sales of bottled water and disaster kits tripling following Monday’s quake.

Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active countries, sitting on top of four major tectonic plates along the western edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”

The region still bears the scars of the massive magnitude 9.0 undersea quake in 2011, which triggered a devastating tsunami that left about 18,500 people dead or missing.

The JMA issued its first special advisory in 2024 for the southern half of Japan’s Pacific coast, warning of a possible “megaquake.”

The government has said that a quake in the Nankai Trough and subsequent tsunami could kill as many as 298,000 people and cause up to $2 trillion in damages.

Source: ALjAZEERA