Japan earthquake jolts Iwate coast, no tsunami risk or major damage

Tokyo,UPDATED: Jun 25, 2026 09:42 IST

A powerful earthquake struck off Japan's northern coast on Thursday morning, but the country's meteorological agency said there was no tsunami risk. The quake, which hit during the morning rush hour, shook parts of the north-eastern region and was also felt mildly in Tokyo.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2, upgraded from an initial reading of 6.9, and struck off the eastern coast of Iwate at a depth of about 50 kilometres. The US Geological Survey also put the magnitude at 6.9. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The shaking occurred in an area where strong earthquakes have been repeatedly reported in recent months, including one in December that led to a weeklong mega-quake caution advisory.

Top government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. He also said nuclear power plants and facilities, including the Fukushima Daiichi plant damaged in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and a spent fuel reprocessing plant in Aomori, had not reported any abnormalities after Thursday's quake.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo that her government's emergency team is "putting people's lives first" while assessing information and preparing for relief operations, if needed. She urged residents in the affected areas to remain alert for possible aftershocks.

Tomoko Nagane, a primary school principal in the town of Hashikami in Aomori prefecture, told NHK that she was driving when the quake alert sounded and felt moderate sideways shaking. She said children who had already reached the school were safe, though some were crying in fear. Classes were cancelled for the day and all the children returned home safely, she said.

NHK footage quoted journalists in several hard-hit towns, including Sendai and Morioka, as saying they felt the shaking for a couple of minutes but had not seen any damage. The footage showed people commuting as usual.

East Japan Railway Co said some bullet trains and other local rail lines in the north-eastern region were suspended for safety checks. Japan, one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries, saw strong shaking off its northern coast on Thursday, but authorities said there was no tsunami danger and no immediate sign of major damage.

With PTI Inputs

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