World
Tsunami warning issued as 7.6 magnitude earthquake hits Japan
Japan has issued a major tsunami warning after a series of strong earthquakes.
The quakes hit Ishikawa and nearby prefectures, with one having a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
It issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of the island of Honshu.
Follow the latest updates on the earthquake in Japan
The purple line shows the major tsunami warning while the red one indicates a tsunami warning. Pic: Japan Meteorological Agency
The epicentre of the Japan earthquake. Pic: USGS
A tsunami around 1m high has struck areas along the Sea of Japan, with waves of up to 5m high predicted, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
NHK urged people to flee to high ground or the tops of nearby buildings as quickly as possible.
It warned tsunami waves could keep returning and warnings were continuing to be broadcast nearly an hour after the initial alert. Several aftershocks rocked the region.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged local residents to evacuate immediately following the earthquake.
A spokesperson for the Japanese government said at an emergency press conference that authorities were still checking the extent of the damage and warned residents to prepare for possible further quakes.
More than 36,000 households lost power in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, utilities provider Hokuriku Electric Power said.
There were no irregularities at any of Japan’s nuclear power plants following the earthquake, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said.
People are evacuated following from their homes in Wajima City. Pic: AP
The earthquake damaged the pavement in the city. Pic: AP
South Korea also warned the sea level in some areas along the east coast may rise after the earthquake.
Japan is extremely prone to earthquakes. In March 2011 a major quake and tsunami caused meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
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