A television screen shows a news report on Japan Meteorological Agency's tsunami warning, April 20, 2026. ISSEI KATO / REUTERS
An 80-centimetre (31-inch) tsunami wave hit a port in northern Japan on Monday, April 20, after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the region, Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The wave was observed at 5:34 pm local time at a port in Kuji, Iwate, JMA said. The quake hit at 4:53 pm in Pacific waters off northern Iwate prefecture and the tremor was strong enough to shake large buildings as far as Tokyo, hundreds of kilometers away.
"Evacuate immediately from coastal regions and riverside areas to a safer place such as high ground or an evacuation building," the weather agency said, warning that damage due to tsunami waves was expected. "Tsunami waves are expected to hit repeatedly. Do not leave safe ground until the warning is lifted," it said. Footage from national broadcaster NHK did not show any immediate visible damage around several ports in Iwate.
The prime minister's office said it had set up a crisis management team. "For those of you who live in areas for which the warnings have been issued, please evacuate to higher, safer places such as higher ground," Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters, adding that the government was trying to confirm whether there were any casualties or property damage.
