ASIATODAY.ID, TOKYO — A powerful Magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northern Japan late Monday, December 8, 2025, shaking wide areas of Aomori, Iwate, and Hokkaido and triggering a series of tsunami alerts along the Pacific coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) later lifted all warnings after several hours, but authorities remain on high alert for possible strong aftershocks.
Strong Quake and Tsunami Waves Up to 70 cm
The earthquake occurred at 11:15 p.m., with its epicenter located offshore east of Aomori Prefecture. JMA initially reported a magnitude of 7.6 before revising it to 7.5, with the depth adjusted to 54 kilometers.
Tsunami waves were recorded at several locations along the northern coastline:
70 cm at Kuji Port, Iwate
50 cm in Urakawa City, Hokkaido
40 cm at Mutsuogawara Port, Aomori
More than three hours later, the government downgraded the alert to a Tsunami Advisory. All tsunami-related advisories were officially canceled by 6:20 a.m. Tuesday.
Government Activates Emergency Response
Within minutes, the Japanese government established an emergency task force at the Prime Minister’s office. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived shortly before midnight to oversee the national response.
She instructed ministries and local governments to: deliver immediate information on tsunami alerts and evacuation orders, evacuate residents in at-risk coastal areas, accelerate damage assessment, and ensure maximum coordination for emergency and rescue operations.
“The central government will work closely with local authorities and make the utmost effort to carry out emergency measures, including rescue operations for affected residents,” Takaichi said, as quoted by NHK.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed on Tuesday that the government is still assessing the full extent of the damage. Response units from the police, fire department, Self-Defense Forces, and the Japan Coast Guard have been deployed across the region.
Prime Minister Takaichi confirmed that 30 people were injured in the quake.
Region Faces High Risk of Strong Aftershocks
The earthquake occurred along a trench off the coasts of Hokkaido and northeastern Honshu—an area long monitored due to the subduction of the Pacific Plate. JMA warned that aftershocks of similar or greater magnitude may occur in the coming days.
The warning has revived public concerns, especially as the same region was devastated by the 2011 magnitude-9.0 megathrust earthquake, which triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster and left nearly 20,000 people dead or missing.
Indonesian Embassy Urges Citizens in Japan to Stay Alert After M7.5 Quake
Following the Japan Earthquake 7.5, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo issued an advisory urging Indonesian nationals to remain calm, vigilant, and responsive to official information.
In its public statement, the embassy advised Indonesians to: monitor updates from Japanese media and authorities, understand evacuation routes in their residential areas, prepare emergency bags containing essential documents, medicines, and cash, maintain communication with community networks.
As of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the embassy reported no Indonesian casualties.
Indonesians needing emergency assistance are urged to contact:
KBRI Tokyo hotlines:
+81-80-3506-8612 / +81-80-4940-7419
Indonesian Consulate in Osaka:
+81-80-3113-1003
The embassy emphasized that preparedness and access to accurate information are crucial for Indonesian communities living in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.
Heightened Earthquake Risk in the Coming Days
Kyodo News reported that JMA has raised the probability of another strong earthquake hitting the same region within days. This event marks the first significant tsunami warning for Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast—from Aomori to Iwate and Miyagi—since 2011.
Japan’s Cabinet Office urged the public to stay on heightened alert for at least a week and keep emergency kits accessible in case rapid evacuation becomes necessary. (AT Network)
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