Powerful 7.5-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Japan: Homes and Offices Shake Violently in Dramatic Footage

A severe 7.5-magnitude earthquake rocked northeastern Japan on December 8, resulting in injuries to at least 30 individuals and necessitating the evacuation of approximately 90,000 residents. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) initially cautioned about a potential tsunami reaching up to three meters along Japan's northeastern coastline, with alerts issued for Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures, according to Reuters. By December 9, authorities had removed all tsunami warnings.

According to Japan's seismic intensity scale of 1-7, the earthquake registered an "upper 6" in Hachinohe city, Aomori prefecture. This intensity made standing impossible, forcing people to crawl to safety.

The earthquake was extensively documented on video, showing homes, offices, and public areas violently shaking.

One recording revealed a tumultuous scene inside a residence where two men attempted to secure television sets while objects crashed from tables. A woman was documented trying to maintain balance while recording the tremors on her mobile device.

Terrifying shaking as a magnitude 7.6 earthquake rocks Aomori, Japan. pic.twitter.com/YI8ZxAP71l

— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) December 8, 2025

Footage from the Aomori Asahi Broadcasting branch office in Hachinohe City captured desks, computers, chairs, and other office equipment shaking vigorously.

Japan: The moment the M7.6 earthquake hit Hachinohe City - captured from the Aomori Asahi Broadcasting Hachinohe branch office 🎥pic.twitter.com/ppJdYIxwoo

— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) December 8, 2025

Another video displayed a suspended light fixture swinging from a ceiling, with earthquake alert notifications audible from a mobile phone.

A Japanese social media user shared this video of the massive earthquake that just hit northern Japan. As the light sways, you can hear earthquake warning alerts coming from a phone.pic.twitter.com/jXfrEGGcWr

— Jeffrey J. Hall 🇯🇵🇺🇸 (@mrjeffu) December 8, 2025

Reuters Asia shared surveillance footage displaying severe shaking at the precise moment the earthquake struck.

The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded tsunami warnings to advisories after a powerful 7.5-magnitude quake hit the northeastern coast https://t.co/y4ERppcyIB pic.twitter.com/AcVYmtwTIa

— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) December 9, 2025

On Instagram, one video showed a resident's aquariums trembling as the earthquake impacted Japan.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ABC7 Eyewitness News (@abc7la)

Following the earthquake, the JMA issued advisories covering regions from Hokkaido to Chiba prefecture near Tokyo, urging residents to remain alert as another significant earthquake could occur within a week.

Power providers Tohoku Electric Power and Hokkaido Electric Power confirmed no anomalies at nuclear facilities in the affected areas. While thousands of households initially lost power after the quake, electricity was restored by the morning of December 9.

Japan ranks among the world's most earthquake-susceptible nations, experiencing tremors approximately every five minutes. Located along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone characterized by active volcanoes and deep oceanic trenches, the country accounts for nearly 20% of all global earthquakes measuring 6.0 or greater.