Local residents evacuate to a community center after a tsunami warning was issued following an earthquake off the Sanriku coast on Friday April 20, 2026. Photo: VCG

An earthquake with its epicenter off the Sanriku coast struck Japan at around 4:52 pm on Monday, recording a maximum seismic intensity of lower 5. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake had an estimated preliminary magnitude of 7.7 and a focal depth of 19 kilometers, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Monday.

Multiple nuclear plants in Japan were checking their status following the earthquake. According to Japanese media outlet NHK, Tohoku Electric Power said that no abnormalities have been confirmed so far at the Onagawa Nuclear Power Station in Miyagi Prefecture as a result of the earthquake. The Onagawa Station has three reactors, with Unit 2 having been restarted, Unit 1 decommissioned, and Unit 3 shut down for a long period.

No new abnormalities caused by the earthquake have been confirmed so far at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Futaba and Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company. There has also been no change in the readings of monitoring posts measuring radiation levels around the plant. Meanwhile, at the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station in Naraha and Tomioka, where shaking with a seismic intensity of 2 was observed, no abnormalities caused by the earthquake have been confirmed so far, NHK reported.

According to Tohoku Electric Power, the Higashidori Nuclear Power Station in Aomori Prefecture has been shut down for a long period, and checks are underway to confirm whether there are any abnormalities caused by the earthquake, per NHK. 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday afternoon urged residents to "evacuate immediately to higher ground or other safe locations such as evacuation buildings" following the earthquake and tsunami warning. She added that casualties and damage were still being assessed, according to Nikkei on Friday. 

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake was measured and struck the offshore waters off the east coast of Japan at 15:53 on Monday, with a focal depth of 10 kilometers. Based on the latest monitoring and analysis, the quake triggered a local tsunami near the epicenter, with a wave of 0.8 meters recorded at Kuji Station at 16:34.

Chinese Consulate-General in Sapporo on Monday released a safety reminder on its official WeChat account, urging Chinese citizens in its consular district — especially those in Aomori Prefecture, Iwate Prefecture, and coastal areas along the Pacific side of Hokkaido — to follow official channels for timely updates, comply with evacuation instructions issued by local authorities, take necessary emergency shelter measures, stay away from the coast, and ensure personal safety. 

Tsunamis may strike repeatedly and advised against approaching the shoreline to retrieve belongings or observe conditions, said the safety reminder. The consulate also reminded Chinese citizens, particularly those living near the epicenter, to remain highly alert to aftershocks and potential secondary disasters.