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By Alia Shoaib and Toby Meyjes
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People living on large swathes of Japan's coastline were urged to evacuate on Monday after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck, triggering a tsunami warning.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said that a tsunami of up to 10 feet could strike, with the most powerful waves set to hit the Iwate prefecture, where residents were told to take shelter on higher ground and soldiers deployed in response.
"Residents in areas where tsunami warnings have been issued should immediately evacuate to higher ground or evacuation buildings and other higher, safer locations," Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote on X.
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Takaichi added in a later post that for one week, residents should be prepared for immediate evacuation and should "carry emergency supplies at all times."
It came after the quake, which registered a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 before being revised up to 7.7, hit off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at around 4:53 p.m. local time, at a depth of 20 kilometers, or about 12.5 miles below the sea surface at its epicenter.
In the first waves to hit the coastline, a tsunami of about 2.6 feet was detected at Kuji port in the Iwate prefecture, and a smaller tsunami of 1.3 feet was recorded at another port in the prefecture.
So far, no major damage or injuries have been recorded, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said in a press conference.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency issued an alert warning of a potential "mega-quake" following the 7.7 earthquake earlier today.
It has been more than 15 years since Japan was hit by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a tsunami that left 22,000 people dead and forced nearly half a million to flee their homes.
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Japanese Tsunami Warning in Full
Several areas of the Pacific coast of northern Japan are forecast to be hit by the tsunami, according to Japan’s Meteorological Agency.
Tsunami advisories are in place for much of Hokkaido’s Pacific coast, the Pacific Ocean and Japan Sea Coasts of Aomori prefecture, and Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate prefectures.
The advisories apply to tsunami waves of up to 1 meter, and residents in these areas are advised to get out of the water and leave coastal regions immediately.
Earlier tsunami warnings in some areas were downgraded to advisories on Monday night local time.
Tsunami warnings apply to those that are expected to reach heights of up to 3 meters (10 feet) and strike repeatedly. Residents in these areas are advised to evacuate immediately from coastal and riverside areas to high ground.
There are currently no areas with a major tsunami warning, which is the highest level in the three-tier Japanese system.
Will This Tsunami Impact Hawaii?
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Honolulu said there is no risk of the tsunami striking Hawaii in an update on Sunday night.
“Based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii,” the PTWC said. “This will be the final statement issued for this event unless additional data are received.”
Actions to Take for Safety
When under threat of tsunami, local residents should immediately evacuate from coastal or river areas and move to higher ground or nearby buildings, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK
Residents are advised to follow evacuation orders from local authorities and not return until all warnings or advisories are lifted, as tsunamis involve multiple waves that can continue to strike.
In some cases, waves may arrive before advisories are issued, so residents should evacuate immediately if they feel a strong tremor.
Update 4/20/26, 9:10 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Correction 4/20/26, 9:10 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with the correct spelling of Takaichi's last name.
Update 4/20/26, 9:47 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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