Japan’s northeast rocked by 7.6 magnitude earthquake, sparks evacuation, tsunami alerts

Japan has been struck by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake, with tens of thousands ordered to leave amid fears of three metre tsunami waves smashing the coast.

Japan has been rocked by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake, triggering tsunami warnings and sparking evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents.

The massive quake struck late on Monday about 11.15pm local time (1.15am AEDT) in the country’s northeast coast.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the epicentre was 80 kilometres east-northeast of Hachinohe at a depth of about 50 kilometres.

Tsunami alerts were issued in Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures.

JMA warned tsunamis “will strike repeatedly”.

“There is a risk of damage from a tsunami,” the alert stated.

“People living in coastal areas or along rivers should immediately evacuate to high ground, evacuation buildings, or other safe places. Tsunamis will strike repeatedly.

“Do not leave a safe place until the warning is lifted.”

A road is congested with cars heading for higher ground in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido Prefecture. Picture: The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP

Tourist and locals staying in the elementary school gymnasium that has been turned into a shelter. Picture: Ikuya Oshio / The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP

Items were knocked from shelves inside convenience stores and supermarkets. Picture: Norikazu Fukuura / The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP

A tsunami 40 centimetres in height reached Aomori’s Mutsu Ogawara and Hokkaido’s Urakawa ports just before midnight local time.

While other areas have experienced 20 to 70 centimetre tsunamis.

Locals and tourists rushed to nearby shelters, as they sat on thin mattresses and kept warm with blankets watching the news for updates.

Others in the evacuation zone jumped into cars and drove for higher ground.

Security vision showed the inside of one office shaking wildly during the earthquake, with paperwork knocked to the ground and blinds and signs swinging for 90 seconds.

“Japan’s disaster preparedness saves lives, but the sheer force of this quake is shocking,” the post on X read.

“May every family find protection and every soul find courage.”

An advisory warning during a live broadcast urging residents to “run” as a tsunami alert had been issued. Picture: GREG Baker / AFP

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaking to reporters. Picture: Kyodo News via AP

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the media there are reports of at least seven people injured. Local media, citing a hotel worker, say all are conscious and in hospital.

The full scale of damage to infrastructure will not be known until the morning.

A response office has been set up in the PM’s crisis management centre and an emergency team have met to discuss the steps in the emergency.

Japan is one of the countries most prone to earthquakes as it sits on the Ring of Fire where volcanic and seismic activity happens often.

Close to 700 people died and more than 1400 were injured on New Year’s Day last year when a 7.6 magnitude quake struck Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture.

The largest quake ever recorded in the Asian nation was a magnitude 9, which hit off the coast of the northern city of Sendai.

It triggered a series of tsunamis, some 40 metres in height, and hit multiple coastlines, leaving at least 18,000 dead and others missing.

Originally published as Japan’s northeast rocked by 7.6 magnitude earthquake, sparks evacuation, tsunami alerts