Japan earthquake highlights: Four deaths confirmed; tsunami warning lowered

Four deaths in Japan have been confirmed following a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake, triggering 1-meter waves along the country's west coast and neighboring South Korea, Reuters reported quoting Ishikawa Prefectural authorities.

A residential area in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, saw fires erupt after a strong earthquake hit central Japan. The quake, with a magnitude of 7.6, caused casualties, building destruction, power outages in numerous homes, and led coastal residents to seek higher ground due to 1-meter waves along Japan's west coast and neighboring South Korea.

A powerful earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, killing at least one person, destroying buildings, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and prompting residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground.

The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 triggered waves of about 1 metre along Japan's west coast and neighbouring South Korea, with authorities saying larger waves could follow.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami warnings for the prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama.

A major tsunami warning - the first since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan - was issued for Ishikawa but was later downgraded and eventually cut to an advisory, meaning waves up to 1 metre (3 foot) high could be expected.

Reuters

Japan's tsunami warning has been downgraded to a tsunami advisory, as reported by NHK.

A powerful earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, killing at least one person, destroying buildings, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and prompting residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground.

Reuters

Russia and North Korea issued tsunami warnings for some areas.

Japan dropped its highest-level tsunami alert, issued following a series of major earthquakes on Monday, but told residents of coastal areas not to return to their homes as deadly waves could still come.

The quakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan's main island, Honshu. It was unclear how many people might have been killed or hurt.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported more than a dozen quakes in the Japan Sea off the coast of Ishikawa and nearby prefectures shortly after 4 p.m.

At least six homes were damaged by the quakes, with people trapped inside, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said. A fire broke out in Wajima city, Ishikawa Prefecture, and electricity was out for more than 30,000 households, he said.

AP

A representative from the Japan Meteorological Agency emphasized that tsunamis are still being detected, underscoring the importance of maintaining evacuation measures.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama.

Central Japan experienced a sequence of 21 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or higher in slightly over 90 minutes on Monday, as reported by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The most powerful tremor recorded reached a magnitude of 7.6, leading to the issuance of tsunami warnings. Authorities advised residents in the affected area to relocate to higher ground as a precautionary measure.

South Korea's east coast experienced a tsunami measuring under one meter (3.3 ft) following a significant earthquake in Japan on Monday, as reported by South Korea's meteorological agency.

The initial wave height was 67 cm (2.2 ft), with expectations of potential increases and larger waves over the next 24 hours. Simultaneously, North Korea issued tsunami warnings for its coast, anticipating waves exceeding 2 meters, Reuters reported.

South Korea's Gangwon province advised residents to take precautions and evacuate to higher ground, as per the Ministry of Interior and Safety.

Japan has downgraded the 'Major Tsunami Warning' to a 'Tsunami Warning' for the Noto region.

Reuters

The tsunami threat from a powerful earthquake that struck central Japan on Monday has "largely passed", a US agency said, after waves over a metre high had earlier hit some areas.

"The tsunami threat has now largely passed," the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

AFP

Wajima City Fire Department in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, has reportedly received at least 30 reports of buildings collapsing, local media reports say.

More than 36,000 households had lost power in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, utilities provider Hokuriku Electric Power said.

Japan has issued another earthquake warning for Ishikawa Prefecture.

Following a significant earthquake in north-central Japan on Monday, North Korea issued tsunami warnings for its east coast. State radio reported that waves measuring up to 2.08 meters (6.8 ft) could potentially reach the North Korean shore, according to Yonhap news, Reuters reported.

According to Russia's news agency TASS, regions including parts of Sakhalin Island's western coast, and the mainland Primorsk and Khabarovsk regions, located near Japan on Russia's Pacific seaboard, are facing a potential tsunami threat, Reuters reported.

This follows a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 in central Japan, prompting tsunami warnings and advisories for residents to evacuate. Russian authorities in the port city of Vladivostok, Primorsk region, urged those at sea to return to shore immediately.

Officials in Sakhalin and Khabarovsk regions indicated that the anticipated wave is not expected to be life-threatening, as reported by TASS.

The Indian Embassy in Japan has set up an emergency room for anyone to contact in connection with the earthquake and tsunami warnings on January 1. It has issued emergency contact numbers for Indian citizens after a strong earthquake and tsunami warnings in Japan.

In a statement shared on X, the Indian Embassy in Japan stated, "Embassy has set up an emergency control room for anyone to contact in connection with the Earthquake and Tsunami on January 1, 2024. The following Emergency numbers and email IDs may be contacted for any assistance."

The first tsunami reached South Korea's east coast at 0921 GMT at a height of 45 cm (1.5 ft) in the wake of a massive earthquake that hit Japan on Monday, South Korea's meteorological agency said.

The tsunami can grow after the initial waves and may continue for more than 24 hours, the agency said in an advisory.

Tsunami waves over a metre high hit central Japan on Monday after a series of powerful earthquakes that damaged homes, closed highways and prompted authorities to urge people to run to higher ground.

A major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. Japan's weather agency reported a succession of 21 quakes of 4.0 magnitude or stronger hitting the nation's central region in just over 90 minutes.

A powerful earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, triggering warnings for residents to evacuate some coastal areas, knocking out power to thousands of homes and disrupting flights and rail services to the affected region, reported Reuters.

The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 triggered waves of around 1 metre along parts of the Sea of Japan coast with a larger wave expected, public broadcaster NHK reported.