A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck off the coast of northeastern Japan on Monday, April 21, 2026. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported the quake's epicenter was off the Sanriku coast in Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 50 kilometers.
The agency immediately issued tsunami warnings and advisories for coastal areas of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. Initial tsunami waves of up to 1 meter were observed at several ports. Authorities urged residents in affected areas to evacuate to higher ground immediately.
There were reports of strong shaking felt across the Tohoku region. Public broadcaster NHK showed footage of buildings swaying. Bullet train services in the region were temporarily suspended for safety checks. No major damage or casualties were immediately reported, but assessments are ongoing.
The region is part of the same area devastated by the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority stated there were no abnormalities reported at nuclear power plants, including the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
