On August 2, 1976, a massive earthquake struck Japans Thoku region, registering a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale. The earthquake triggered a deadly tsunami that struck coastal areas, causing widespread devastation. More than 1,000 people lost their lives, and thousands more were injured or displaced. In addition to the physical destruction, the disaster led to significant economic losses. The event led to improvements in seismic monitoring and disaster response systems in Japan.