New Earthquake Strikes Northern Japan Tsunami Advisory Issued

December 12, 2025: A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northern Japan on Friday, December 12, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue a tsunami advisory for the northern Pacific coastline. The latest tremor has caused concern, as it comes just days after a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake rattled the same region.

The Latest Event

The earthquake struck at 11:44 a.m. local time (02:44 GMT). Its epicenter was located off the coast of Aomori prefecture, with the US Geological Survey (USGS) placing it about 130 kilometers (80 miles) off the city of Kuji in Iwate prefecture.

The JMA has advised that tsunami waves of up to one meter (three feet) could affect the coastal areas of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Miyagi prefectures.

Crucially, an “advisory” is a lower level of alert than a full “warning.” As of the latest reports, there have been no immediate reports of major damage or casualties from this specific quake, and the JMA has indicated that significant tsunami damage is not expected. The tremor was measured at a level 4 on Japan’s 1-7 seismic intensity scale, meaning the shaking was less intense than the quake earlier in the week.

Continuing Seismic Activity

This Friday’s earthquake follows a 7.5-magnitude quake that hit the same region late on Monday. That earlier, more powerful event caused light damage, injured at least 50 people, and triggered tsunami waves of up to 70 centimeters (28 inches) in some communities before all advisories were lifted.

Following Monday’s quake, the JMA took the rare step of issuing a special advisory warning that an aftershock of similar or greater intensity was possible within the following week. This latest 6.7-magnitude earthquake falls within that cautioned period, reminding residents of the ongoing seismic instability.

Safety and Infrastructure

Japanese authorities, including the Nuclear Regulation Authority, have confirmed that there are no immediate signs of abnormalities at the region’s nuclear facilities following the Friday quake.

In response to the current advisory, coastal residents in the affected areas are urged to move away from the shoreline and river mouths to higher ground until the advisory is officially lifted.

Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active countries, sitting along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” which is why it has some of the most advanced earthquake and tsunami warning systems globally. While the majority of the 1,500 annual tremors it experiences are mild, the threat of a large event is ever-present. The region remains mindful of the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit in 2011, which claimed nearly 20,000 lives.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely for any further aftershocks or changes to the tsunami advisory, prioritizing public safety in a region familiar with the constant threat of nature.