Japan Tsunami: Evacuation Alert Issued With 10ft Waves Expected

People living on large swathes of Japan’s coastline have been urged to evacuate after a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck, triggering a tsunami warning.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami of up to 10ft could strike, with the most powerful waves set to hit the Iwate prefecture, where residents have been told to take shelter on higher ground and soldiers have been deployed in response.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takichi wrote on X: “Residents in areas where tsunami warnings have been issued should immediately evacuate to higher ground or evacuation buildings and other higher, safer locations.”

It came after the quake, registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.5, hit off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan at around 4:53 p.m. local time, at a depth of about 6 miles below the sea surface.

In the first waves to hit the coastline, a tsunami of about 2.6 feet was detected at the Kuji port in the Iwate prefecture, and a smaller tsunami of 1.3 feet was recorded at another port in the prefecture.

It has been more than 15 years since Japan was hit by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that left 22,000 people dead and forced nearly half a million to flee their homes.

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 warnings are in place for the central Pacific coast of Hokkaido, the Pacific coast of Aomori prefecture and in Iwate prefecture.

The warnings apply to tsunamis that are expected to reach heights of up to 3 meters (10ft) and strike repeatedly. Residents in these areas are advised to evacuate immediately from coastal and riverside areas to high ground.

Tsunami advisories are in place for much of Hokkaido's Pacific coast, the Japan Sea Coast of Aomori prefecture, and Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.

The advisories apply to tsunami waves of up to one meter, and residents in these areas are advised to get out of the water and leave coastal regions immediately.

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 in Honolulu said that 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," 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.

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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 5:30 AM.