Japanese authorities have now downgraded the tsunami warnings in place around the northeastern coast to advisories., external
Japan has three categories of tsunami alerts.
The highest alert is called a Major Tsunami Warning where tsunami waves over three metres in height are expected to hit repeatedly.
The tsunami warnings have been downgraded to advisories across Japan’s northeast coast.
A Tsunami Advisory is the lowest-level alert, issued for waves below one metre. At this height, people are advised to get out of the sea and leave coastal areas immediately
A Tsunami Warning is the second-highest alert. These are issued for waves expected to be up to three metres high
When a warning is issued, the agency says those in tsunami warning areas must evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas and move to higher ground or an evacuation building
However, emergency alert app NERV says people are still advised to remain away from the coast and to avoid any large bodies of water until the advisories have been lifted.
Government evacuation orders, issued after the earlier tsunami warnings, mean around 156,000 people were told to evacuate across five prefectures.
Japanese authorities revise magnitude of earthquake to 7.7
Japanese authorities have revised the magnitude of the earthquake which struck earlier to 7.7.
It was initially announced as having a magnitude of 7.5.
The depth at which the quake occurred has also been revised from 10km to 19km (11.8 miles).
Waves swell in Hokkaido following earthquake
Video footage from Hokkaido shows waves swelling close to the shore.
Hokkaido was one of the areas where a tsunami warning was issued, following the earthquake striking off Japan’s northeast coast.
‘As soon as the alert went off, everyone ran
A look at Japan’s tsunami warnings and advisories
Tsunami warnings and advisories for various parts of Japan’s northeastern coast are in place.
Japan has three categories of tsunami alerts, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency., external
A Major Tsunami Warning is for waves considered “huge”. These are issued when waves of 5 to 10m are expected.
A Tsunami Warning is the second-highest alert, issued for waves expected to be around 1 to 3 metres high.
The agency says those in the warning areas must evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas and move to higher ground or an evacuation building.
A tsunami advisory is the lowest-level alert, issued for waves below 1 metre. People are advised to get out of the sea and leave coastal areas immediately when these are issued.
Bullet trains in northeast Japan suspended
Several bullet train services in the northeast of Japan have been suspended due to the earthquake, according to transport operators.
A few lines serving the capital, Tokyo, are affected. These include the Tohoku Shinkansen line, the Yamagata Shinkansen line and the Akita Shinkansen.
Around 100 households without power following earthquake
Japan’s Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara is giving an update and says residents should stay inland until tsunami warnings are lifted.
Around 100 households are without power, he says, and some bullet train services are currently on hold.
Japan sees major earthquakes around once a year
Statistically speaking, Japan gets an earthquake with a magnitude seven or above about every 16 months, so that’s just under once a year on average.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the country accounts for more than 10% of all earthquakes with a magnitude of six or higher that occur worldwide.
The most recent major quake was a magnitude 7.6 off Aomori prefecture in December 2025, but the deadliest modern event was the 2011 Tohoku earthquake which was magnitude 9.0, triggering a tsunami, killing more than 18,000 and causing a nuclear meltdown in Fukushima prefecture.
When the tsunami warnings were triggered then, many people didn’t think the tsunami would be so big and didn’t seek high enough ground.
Now, the government issues tsunami warnings and advisories and urges residents to flee the area as soon as possible.
There’s been more education about tsunami waves since 2011 about how even a 30cm wave can be life-threatening.
Magnitude of earthquake confirmed as 7.5
It has now been confirmed by the Japan Meteorological Agency that a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sanriku at 16:52 (08:52 BST) local time and had a depth of 10km (6.2 miles).
Bigger tsunami may hit after first wave, authorities warns
In its news conference, Japan’s Meteorological Agency warns that a bigger tsunami may hit after the first wave.
Tsunami warnings in parts of Hokkaido and Iwate prefectures have been issued.
That’s all from the briefing.
Japanese authorities advise to keep watch for landslides and further earthquakes this week
The Japan Meteorological Agency has just started a news conference.
Officials are warning people to evacuate to higher ground and keep watch for landslides or similar earthquakes later this week.
SOURCE: BBC NEWS
