Japan Evacuates Tourists for Potential Incoming Tsunami

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Japan Evacuates Tourists for Potential Incoming Tsunami

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Apr 23, 2026 8:28 PM ET

On Monday, Japan was rocked by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake.

And officials fear that things are heating up, that the initial tremor was just the beginning. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a “subsequent quake advisory,” and as a result, tourists in coastal regions are currently preparing to evacuate – just in case.

The initial earthquake fortunately caused minimal damage – injuries were reported, buildings were damaged, and roads were ripped up. It also created a tsunami. Nothing too crazy, however. Waves up to 80 cm (2.6 feet) were recorded at Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture. And footage from the tsunami waves can be seen below. As for what is (potentially) to come, Japan is playing the game of “better safe than sorry.”

As evacuations begin, The Japan Times reports:

“Following an earthquake and the issuing of a subsequent earthquake advisory for Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast region on Monday, preparations are underway at tourist sites and other locations in the affected areas to ensure that even those unfamiliar with the local geography, such as foreign visitors, can evacuate safely in an emergency.

“The magnitude 7.7 quake hit the Tohoku region and Hokkaido on Monday afternoon, triggering tsunami warnings and advisories and evacuation orders, which were later lifted. Following the quake, the subsequent earthquake advisory was issued, instructing people in the area to remain ready to evacuate at any moment until April 27, due to the increased likelihood of large aftershocks.”

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Japan, of course, exists in the notorious “Ring of Fire” – the 25,000-mile, horseshoe-shaped belt around the Pacific Ocean, which is a literal hotbed for seismic activity. It is home to over 75 percent of the world’s active volcanoes and 90 percent of its earthquakes.

The last major tremor that struck Japan was in 2011, when a 9.0 megathrust hit off the Oshika Peninsula, and triggered a devastating tsunami that resulted in the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Nearly 20,000 people died during that catastrophic event.

Now, Japan is taking no chances.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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