Tokyo International News Agency

At 4:55 PM on April 20, 2026, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning for the central Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Iwate Prefecture following an earthquake centered off the Sanriku coast. In response to the emergency, social media platforms have been flooded with urgent calls for immediate evacuation. The Prime Minister's Office of Japan, through its disaster and crisis management information account, issued a strong appeal: "Please evacuate immediately." Responding to this, many users have shared desperate messages urging others to "prioritize your life," "head for higher ground or evacuation towers," and "never return until the warning is lifted, as tsunamis strike repeatedly." Beyond expressions of concern regarding earthquake damage and chaos, there has been a widespread movement among internet users to encourage others to evacuate, highlighting a significant surge in information sharing and a commitment to safety....

At approximately 4:53 p.m. on April 20, a powerful earthquake occurred with its epicenter off the coast of Sanriku. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.5 (with some reports indicating M7.4) and a focal depth of approximately 10 kilometers. The earthquake registered a maximum intensity of 5-upper on the Japanese shindo scale in the Sannohe-Kamikita region of Aomori Prefecture. Intensity 5-lower was observed across parts of Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. Strong tremors of intensity 4 were felt over a wide area, including parts of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, and Yamagata, with the Tohoku region experiencing the most significant impact. In areas hit by the 5-lower intensity, such as northern inland Iwate, social media platforms saw a mix of check-ins from residents confirming their safety, alongside urgent calls for support, with some users expressing concern for the elderly and vulnerable during the emergency evacua...

Around 4:53 PM on April 20, 2026, a powerful earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.5 (preliminary) struck off the coast of Sanriku. A maximum seismic intensity of 5+ was observed in Aomori Prefecture. Following this earthquake, tsunami warnings were issued for the Pacific coasts of central Hokkaido, Aomori Prefecture, and Iwate Prefecture, urging widespread stringent caution. Regions under tsunami warnings include the Pacific coasts of central Hokkaido, Aomori Prefecture, and Iwate Prefecture. Additionally, tsunami advisories were issued for the Pacific coasts of eastern Hokkaido, western Hokkaido, Miyagi Prefecture, and Fukushima Prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) strongly urged all individuals near coastal areas or rivers to immediately evacuate to higher ground or other safe locations. In fact, tsunamis were observed in various locations. A tsunami of 80cm was recorded at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture at 5:34 PM, and 40cm at Miyako Port at 5:22 PM. The tsunami r...

At 4:30 PM on the 31st, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) lifted all tsunami warnings and advisories that had been issued for the Japanese coast following a massive Magnitude 8.7 earthquake near the Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30. This earthquake caused tsunamis to reach the Japanese coast, with a maximum tsunami of 1.3 meters observed at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture. Approximately 32 hours after the issuance of the tsunami warnings and advisories, they were finally lifted for all regions, leading to widespread relief across various areas. Following the lifting of the alerts, operations at sand bath hot springs in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, resumed. However, some regional impacts remained, such as the continued closure of beaches on Tanegashima Island. This tsunami event was lauded for the relatively calm response observed, partly attributed to heightened disaster awareness since the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, some opinions were heard, such as 'the lifting ...

Today, tsunami warnings issued across wide areas of the Japanese archipelago have been downgraded to tsunami advisories in many regions, and some advisories have been lifted. However, vigilance is still urged in coastal areas. At 6:30 PM, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) downgraded tsunami warnings for areas stretching from Ibaraki Prefecture to Wakayama Prefecture to tsunami advisories. Furthermore, at 8:45 PM, tsunami warnings issued for Hokkaido and the Tohoku region were also lowered to tsunami advisories. In Okayama Prefecture, the tsunami advisory was lifted, and local residents expressed relief. Following the downgrade from warnings to advisories, many evacuees posted messages on social media, such as: "The warning changed to an advisory, and the evacuation order was lifted, so I've returned home," and "I'm back from my friend's house! There's no place like home." Transportation was also affected, with temporary road closures, including a...

On the 30th, tsunamis reached various locations along Japan's Pacific coast, triggered by an earthquake off the coast of Russia. A tsunami of 80cm was observed at Yaene, Hachijojima in Tokyo, and Hanasaki, Nemuro City in Hokkaido, respectively. In addition, tsunamis ranging from 30cm to 40cm, with a maximum of 1.3m, were confirmed at multiple other locations. Even if no shaking is felt from an earthquake, tsunamis can still approach, and vigilance continues in various areas. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami warnings and advisories, urging coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground immediately. On social media, numerous comments expressed gratitude, such as 'Please don't blame the JMA even if the tsunami isn't significant or doesn't come' and 'It's incredibly helpful to have warnings with ample time.' This reflects a renewed recognition of the importance of early information dissemination and evacuation, drawing lessons from th...

A large earthquake occurred off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula at 8:24 AM on July 30, 2025. Initially reported as M8.0, the magnitude was subsequently upgraded to M8.7 and then to M8.8 by agencies including the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. This massive earthquake, comparable in scale to the Great East Japan Earthquake (M9.0), prompted the issuance of tsunami warnings and advisories across a wide area of Japan. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami warnings and advisories for extensive areas along Japan's Pacific coast, anticipating tsunamis up to 3 meters high, and urged residents to evacuate immediately to higher ground. Warnings emphasized that “even a 30 cm tsunami can be enough to knock an adult off their feet,” advising calm and orderly evacuation. Reports indicate that tsunamis of 40-50 cm were observed along the coasts of Hokkaido and Tohoku. Sirens blared in some regions, and expressways like the Seisho Bypass in Kanagawa Prefecture wer...

Today, July 30, the first waves of a tsunami successively reached Japan's Pacific coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and various local governments are strongly urging continued strict vigilance and evacuation until tsunami warnings and advisories are lifted, as there is a possibility that the second and third waves could be higher than the first. Shortly after 12:00 PM, a 0.3-meter tsunami was observed in Hanasaki, Nemuro City, Hokkaido, while a 0.1-meter (10 cm) wave was reported in Yokohama, Kanagawa. The arrival of the first wave was also confirmed in Owase, Mie. Furthermore, the arrival of the first wave has been reported in wide areas, including the inner part of Tokyo Bay, Sagami Bay/Miura Peninsula, Miyagi Prefecture, and along the Okhotsk Sea coast. Experts and past examples indicate that tsunamis do not end with the first wave; they can continue for several hours to more than half a day, with subsequent waves carrying the risk of being higher. For instance, in th...