A powerful earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast in northeastern Japan at 4:53 p.m. local time on Monday, with the United States Geological Survey measuring it at magnitude 7.4 and Japan’s Meteorological Agency reporting a higher reading of 7.7.

The event has triggered tsunami warnings across multiple prefectures, including Iwate, Aomori, and Hokkaido. For residents in these regions, the memory of the 2011 disaster—which killed over 22,000 people following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake—remains vivid.

Evacuation orders were issued for 171,957 people across five prefectures as tsunami waves were detected almost immediately after the quake. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged affected populations to move to higher ground.

The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of potential tsunami waves up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) along northern coastal areas, with observed wave heights reaching approximately 2.6 feet at Kuji port in Iwate Prefecture. Further measurements recorded 0.8 meters at Kuji Port and 0.4 meters at Miyako Port, both in Iwate Prefecture.

Officials noted a 1% probability of a larger earthquake occurring within the next week near the Chishima and Japan trenches—significantly higher than the typical 0.1% chance during normal periods.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that nuclear power plants in the affected region, including Fukushima Daiichi, Fukushima Daini, Onagawa, and Higashidori, remained operational with no abnormalities detected and radioactive levels within safe ranges.

As of the latest reports, there have been no injuries or structural damage to homes. The tsunami warning has since been downgraded to an advisory following 200 power outages and suspended train services in multiple areas.