7.5 earthquake strikes northern Japan

FOLLOWING a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck the north of Japan on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned of similar or larger tremors in the coming days.  

The big quake off the coast of the northern Aomori region injured at least 30 people, authorities said Tuesday, damaging roads and knocking out power for thousands in freezing temperatures.

On the main northern island of Hokkaido, an AFP reporter said the ground shook violently for around 30 seconds as smartphone alarms alerted residents.

In the city of Hachinohe, the quake reached upper six on Japan's seven-level Shindo scale of shakiness, the point at which it's impossible to move without crawling.

With temperatures around freezing point, around 2 700 homes were without power, but by Tuesday morning, electricity had been restored to most areas, according to utility providers.

At first the JMA warned of tsunamis up to three metres, which could have caused major damage.

Around 28 000 people were initially advised after the quake to evacuate, emergency services said, and media reports said some makeshift shelters were full.

In the end, the biggest waves recorded measured up to 70 centimetres, and after several hours, the tsunami warnings were lifted.

The government then released a new estimate in March saying that such a "megaquake" and subsequent tsunami could cause as many as 298 000 deaths and damages of up to $2 trillion.