A massive earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, causing buildings to shake violently and glass to break. Panic spread quickly, and residents fled into the cold night as tremors rolled through multiple prefectures. The disaster triggered tsunami warnings, widespread power outages, and large-scale evacuations.
Viral videos on social media captured the exact moment the earthquake’s violent shaking began. Clips from Hachinohe and Takizawa show fish tanks swaying wildly, windows breaking, and water pouring from upper floors “like a waterfall,” as one shop owner described. Another video from Aomori Asahi Broadcasting’s Hachinohe office shows the newsroom shaking hard as the tremors hit.
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Another video on X shares, "The earthquake in Hokkaido was very big. Living on the 22nd floor, when I ran to the safety exit and went down to the first floor, I forgot to put on my shoes."
Another X user shares, "A Japanese social media user shared this video of the massive earthquake that just hit northern Japan. As the light sways, you can hear earthquake warning alerts coming from a phone."
Authorities reported at least 30 people injured across Hokkaido and nearby regions, many hurt by falling objects. One car fell into a road crack created by the quake, and several buildings were left with visible damage on their outer walls. A convenience store owner in Hachinohe told NHK that he had “never experienced such a big shaking,” and said he was relieved that electricity had not gone out in his area.
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Earthquake crisis in Japan
Train services were also affected. Parts of the Tohoku Shinkansen line were suspended while engineers checked tracks and equipment. Around 200 passengers were stranded at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido due to the disruptions.
The government said that all nuclear facilities, including the Higashidori and Onagawa plants, reported no issues. However, about 450 litres of water were spilt from a spent-fuel cooling system at the Rokkasho reprocessing plant. Officials confirmed there was no safety risk from the spill.
