Japan earthquake live updates:
Major tsunami warning issued after 7.6 magnitude earthquake
Japan has issued a tsunami warning urging people to evacuate coastal areas after a series of strong earthquakes struck its west coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported an earthquake off the coast of Ishikawa and surrounding prefectures, which had a preliminary magnitude of 7.6.
A major tsunami warning was issued for Ishikawa and a lower level tsunami warning was issued for the rest of the west coast of Honshu Island.
Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV warned that torrents of water could reach up to 5 meters (16.5 ft) and urged people to flee to higher ground.
Today, a series of aftershocks occurred, prompting a tsunami warning for the coast. The quake, which struck the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture at about 4:10 p.m. local time, has prompted immediate evacuation orders as authorities brace for a possible onslaught of dangerous tsunami waves.
Video circulated on social media showed the first waves of the tsunami in Toyama city, Toyama prefecture Waves reached a height of 1.2 meters at Wajima Port in Ishikawa Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. This followed a significant magnitude 7.5 earthquake recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies just 10 minutes earlier.
01 January
Japan Meteorological Agency officials: Danger of fire, landslides has increased in areas affected by strong earthquake
01 January
Russia declares tsunami warning in Far Eastern cities – TASS cites mayoralty
Russia declared a tsunami warning on Monday in the Far Eastern cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka, state news agency TASS reported, citing the cities’ mayoral elections.
A major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck central Japan on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings for Japan and Russia’s Sakhalin island.
14:31 (IST) 01 January
A total of 21 earthquakes greater than 4.0 magnitude hit Japan: Meteorological Office
14:18 (IST) 01 January
Russia says Sakhalin island in danger from tsunami in Japan, evacuation underway
Russia’s emergency ministry said parts of Sakhalin Island, off the west coast of Russia’s Pacific coast near Japan, were at risk of a tsunami and the local population was being evacuated, state news agency TASS reported on Monday. The initial magnitude was 7.6 in central Japan on Monday, after which a tsunami warning was issued and residents were advised to evacuate their homes.
