Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes off northern Japan

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Thursday morning, June 25, 2026. The quake, which occurred at 7:30 a.m. local time, was centered off the coast of Iwate Prefecture at a depth of about 50 kilometers. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported no danger of a tsunami, though it noted the possibility of slight sea level changes.

The tremor registered a rare upper 6 on Japan's seismic intensity scale of 7 in the town of Hashikami, Aomori Prefecture, a level where it is impossible to remain standing and unsecured furniture topples over. Hachinohe city in Aomori registered a lower 6, while some areas in Iwate recorded an upper 5. Light to moderate shaking was felt as far as central-eastern Japan, including Tokyo.

Initial reports from government officials indicated no immediate casualties or significant damage. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated there were no abnormalities at nuclear power facilities in the area, including the Fukushima Daiichi plant and a spent fuel reprocessing plant in Aomori. However, one local television report suggested several people may have been trapped in an elevator in Hachinohe...