7.6-Magnitude Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Warning in Japan

The earthquake struck off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, on Japan’s main island, Honshu.Japanese television in Sapporo showed the news of a tsunami warning after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake on Monday.Credit...Greg Baker/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesDec. 8, 2025Updated 11:17 a.m. ETA tsunami warning was issued for parts of Japan’s northern coast on Monday after a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.The agency said the earthquake occurred off Aomori Prefecture, on Japan’s main island, Honshu, after 11 p.m. local time, and it was followed by an aftershock of 5.6 magnitude.Minoru Kihara, the chief cabinet secretary, said tsunamis were predicted for some areas off the coasts of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate Prefectures.Residents were told to evacuate to high ground. Note: Map shows the area with a shake intensity of 3 or greater, which U.S.G.S. defines as “weak,” though the earthquake may be felt outside the areas shown. Source: U.S.G.S. All times on the map are Japan time. By William B. Davis and John Keefe The meteorological agency has issued a tsunami warning for Aomori, Iwate and Hokkaido Prefectures, and issued a tsunami advisory for Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures.Waves of more than 1.3 feet were observed in Mutsu-Ogawara port in Aomori Prefecture and Urakawa in Hokkaido, the northernmost main island in Japan. A tsunami less than a foot high was observed in the town of Erimo in Hokkaido.No damage has been detected at nuclear power plants so far, Mr. Kihara, said.The extent of any damage to populated areas was not immediately clear.NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster, said staff at a hotel in Aomori had reported that multiple people were injured.Kenta Kobayashi, a reporter in Tomakomai, a city in Hokkaido, said he felt strong shaking. “I could not stand without holding something,” he said.Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, told reporters that the authorities would provide residents with any necessary evacuation instructions.Hisako Ueno contributed reporting.Christine Hauser is a Times reporter who writes breaking news stories, features and explainers.SKIP Site IndexNewsHome PageU.S.WorldPoliticsNew YorkEducationSportsBusinessTechScienceWeatherThe Great ReadObituariesHeadwayVisual InvestigationsThe MagazineArtsBook ReviewBest Sellers Book ListDanceMoviesMusicPop CultureTelevisionTheaterVisual ArtsLifestyleHealthWellFoodRestaurant ReviewsLoveTravelStyleFashionReal EstateT MagazineOpinionToday's OpinionColumnistsEditorialsGuest EssaysOp-DocsLettersSunday OpinionOpinion VideoOpinion AudioMoreAudioGamesCookingWirecutterThe AthleticJobsVideoGraphicsTrendingLive EventsCorrectionsReader CenterTimesMachineThe Learning NetworkSchool of The NYTinEducationAccountSubscribeManage My AccountHome DeliveryGift SubscriptionsGroup SubscriptionsGift ArticlesEmail NewslettersNYT LicensingReplica EditionTimes Store