A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northeastern coast on April 20, triggering tsunami alerts, evacuations and renewed fears of something far bigger, a potential megaquake. Initially, tsunami alerts warned of waves as high as three metres, but those fears were later scaled down as actual surges measured around 80 centimetres. The quake, recorded at a depth of 20 kilometres beneath the Pacific Ocean by the Japan Meteorological Agency, registered an upper 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, strong enough to disrupt movement and damage weaker structures. While there have been no immediate reports of casualties or major destruction, the psychological impact is unmistakable. WATCH

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan off the Sanriku Coast, triggering tsunami warnings and urgent evacuation orders across coastal regions. Authorities warned that waves up to 3 metres could hit parts of Iwate and Hokkaido. Around 40 minutes after the quake, an 80-centimetre tsunami wave was recorded at a port in Kuji, raising concerns that additional waves may follow. Strong tremors were felt as far as Tokyo, hundreds of kilometres away.