Japan has issued a major tsunami warning after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s northeastern coast on Monday, prompting authorities to caution that waves as high as three metres (10 feet) could hit the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate.

The tremor, recorded at 1415 GMT (11:15 p.m. local time), was centred about 80 kilometres (50 miles) off the coast of Aomori at a depth of 50 kilometres (30 miles), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the US Geological Survey.

The quake registered an “upper 6” on Japan’s 1–7 seismic intensity scale in parts of Aomori—strong enough to make standing extremely difficult. The violent shaking triggered fires, caused injuries, and led to power cuts in several communities.

High-speed rail operations between Fukushima and Aomori were suspended, expressways were closed, and the Tohoku Shinkansen service was halted as strong aftershocks continued through the night.

Initial tsunami waves have already reached the coastline. A 2.3-foot surge was recorded at Kuji port in Iwate, with smaller waves observed in Aomori and Hokkaido.

The JMA warned that wave heights could increase and urged residents in coastal zones to evacuate immediately to higher ground. Utility operators reported no abnormalities at nearby nuclear power plants.

Japan, located along the volatile Ring of Fire, experiences thousands of earthquakes each year. The latest quake revived painful memories of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which triggered a devastating tsunami and nuclear crisis. While early assessments indicate limited structural damage this time, authorities cautioned that the situation remains fluid as aftershocks continue.

Latest Developments

Japanese authorities reported early Tuesday that emergency crews are assessing minor landslides, damaged roads, and dozens of injuries across Aomori and Iwate.

Schools in several prefectures are closed as precautionary checks of buildings and infrastructure continue. Power has been restored to most affected areas, although some train services remain suspended pending safety inspections.

Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, the Meteorological Department confirmed that a moderate earthquake was felt early Tuesday in parts of Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet, causing panic among residents but no immediate reports of major damage.

Seismologists said the tremor was linked to active fault lines in the region but stressed there is no tsunami threat to Bangladesh at present. Officials have nevertheless urged residents to follow earthquake-safety guidelines and remain alert to aftershocks.

Currently, between approximately 31,500 and 41,000 Bangladeshis are living or working in Japan. So far, there have been no reported deaths among the Bangladeshi community.

What if a 10-Foot Tsunami Hit Bangladesh?

Bangladesh on High Alert After 4.5-Magnitude Tremor. Following powerful quakes in Myanmar (7.7) and Thailand (8.2), Bangladesh last week felt a 4.5-magnitude tremor just 597 km from Dhaka. Experts warn that the Indo-Burma Subduction Zone and Dauki Fault could unleash a major earthquake at any time.

Experts warn that if a tsunami of similar height struck Bangladesh following a major offshore quake, the consequences would be severe, especially in the low-lying and densely populated coastal belt.

Areas such as Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Kutubdia and parts of Chattogram could experience sudden flooding and destructive currents capable of damaging homes, fishing vessels, embankments and transport links.

Given Bangladesh’s extremely flat coastline, a 10-foot wave could travel far inland, disrupting power, communications and road networks.

Despite improvements in early-warning systems, rapid evacuation in crowded settlements would be difficult, placing significant pressure on emergency agencies to move residents to cyclone shelters and restore essential services.