Major 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japan, prompting ...
Follow NBC News live coverage of the Japan earthquake and tsunami warning.
www.nbcnews.comA strong earthquake off northeastern Japan triggered tsunami warnings on April 20, 2026, with initial waves reported around 80 cm and warnings later downgraded in some areas. Reports said authorities urged coastal residents to move to higher ground while emergency teams monitored the situation.[5][7][8]
What is known
- The quake was reported at magnitude 7.7 by Kyodo/Mainichi, though some live coverage cited 7.4–7.7 as agencies updated the estimate.[7][8][5]
- Tsunami waves of up to 80 cm were observed on the Pacific coast.[8]
- Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned that larger waves could still follow the first wave, so evacuation guidance remained important during the alert period.[7][8]
Why it matters
Japan is highly earthquake-prone, and even relatively short-lived tsunami warnings can affect ports, coastal transport, and local evacuations. The 2011 disaster remains a major reason authorities act quickly on tsunami alerts.[5]
Current status
From the latest reports available, the warning had been downgraded in some places, but officials were still monitoring wave activity and aftershocks. If you want, I can also give you the latest updates in French or summarize only the tsunami risk.[8][7]