Japan earthquake latest: Is there a tsumani alert, have flights been cancelled, is there a threat to Australia?

An earthquake with the maximum seismic intensity of 5 Upper has taken place off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan. According to NHK World Japan, “The operator of Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train says the service has been suspended between Tokyo station and Shin-Aomori station. It had been halted because of the earthquake. The Yamagata Shinkansen has also suspended services. The Akita Shinkansen has also suspended between Akita and Morioka stations.

According to some reports, New Chitose airport was forced to close its runways due to the earthquake. One Reddit user wrote: “I’m in Tokyo and felt that all the way in shibuya. Wobbling on the 11th door and I’m still nauseous 🤢.”

Another Reddit user said: “few weeks ago i went down a youtube rabbit hole watching all the insane 2011 tsunami footage. thankfully this earthquake is smaller and japan is more prepared. even back in 2011 the level of preparedness was so high, but the earthquake itself just happened to be one of largest earthquake ever recorded.”

One other Reddit user wrote: “Yeah most shaking I have experienced here at work (Tokyo) on the 27th floor. Sitting here actually doing some coding which is rare. Feel really dizzy... Oh it's not just me...

“Its amazing it was considered Seismic intensity of 2 in Tokyo. Our building was swaying quite a lot.”

Is it safe to travel to Japan?

On the government’s website it says that “Japan is in a major earthquake zone. The Japan Meteorological Agency provides a list of helpful apps and websites in the event of disaster . See further earthquake safety tips from the Japan National Tourism Agency.

“Monitor earthquake information, including tsunami and aftershock warnings, from the Japan Meteorological Agency. See further news on earthquakes at NHK World. Take note of instructions in hotel rooms and at train stations and follow the advice of local authorities.”

Is there a threat to Australia?

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a statement which read: “An undersea earthquake of magnitude 7.5 has occurred at 5:52 PM AEST on Monday

20 April 2026 near OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN.

THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO THE AUSTRALIAN MAINLAND, ISLANDS OR TERRITORIES.”

On April 2, NationalWorld reported that one person has been killed and buildings have been damaged after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia’s Ternate Island. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center which is based in Hawaii said: “Based on all available data... the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed.” Yayuk Oktiani, who was shopping at a market in Bitung, a city on the north-eastern edge of Sulawe, told the BBC that "Outside, people were holding hands, scared and panicking, some even hugging each other.”

Tsunami warnings are currently in place for coast regions of Japan.