Japan earthquake LIVE Updates: Fresh tsunami warnings issued after multiple tremors

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.

People were seen evacuating to higher ground at a parking space of a junior high school after a tsunami warning issued caused by an earthquake in Wajima

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 hit off the Noto Peninsula on Japan’s northwest coast, triggering a tsunami for a wide swath of the country that was expected to reach as high as five meters (16 feet) in some areas.

Japan issued a tsunami warning for almost all of its western coast after the quake hit Monday, causing some train services to stop, power plants to halt operations and authorities to check on nuclear reactors.

South Korea’s Gangwon province warned residents to take precautions and evacuate to higher grounds after a massive earthquake hit north central Japan on Monday and triggered tsunami warnings, according the safety ministry.

South Korea’s meteorological agency earlier said sea levels in some parts of the Gangwon province on the east coast may rise after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 hit north central Japan and issued an advisory for caution.

Russia’s Sakhalin island and the Pacific city of Vladivostok were on “alert” Monday to a possible tsunami risk after a major earthquake in Japan.

The alerts came after the powerful 7.5 earthquake in Japan prompted tsunami warnings, with Japanese authorities urging people to move to higher ground.

This is the first time earthquake with seismic intensity of 7 recorded in Ishikawa prefecture, says Japan Meteorological agency official.

Japan issues another earthquake warning for Ishikawa prefecture, reports Reuters.

Footage aired by NHK showed a building collapsing in a plume of dust in the coastal city of Suzu and residents in Kanazawa city cowering under tables as tremors shook their home. The quake also jolted buildings in the capital Tokyo on the opposite coast.

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

The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama. Russia also issued tsunami warnings in its far eastern cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka.

A succession of 21 earthquakes registering 4.0 magnitude or stronger struck central Japan in just over 90 minutes on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The strongest jolt measured 7.6, it said. The quakes prompted tsunami warnings and authorities urged people in the area to move to higher ground.

Japan issues another earthquake warning to Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama, Nagano prefectures, reports Reuters.

A total of 21 quakes of over 4.0 magnitude hit Japan, the Met office said.

Around 33,500 households are left without power after the strong earthquakes in Japan.

Shinkansen bullet train services have been suspended between Tokyo and the epicenter in the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture on the Sea of Japan side of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Japan Railways said.

Several major highways have been closed around the epicenter of a series of major earthquakes in central Japan, reported Reuters citing a road operator.

Japan issued a tsunami warning for almost all of its western coast after a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 hit off the Noto Peninsula, causing some train services to stop and authorities to check on nuclear reactors.

A tsunami of at least 1.2 meters (4 feet) hit the town of Wajima, about 300 km (190 miles) from Tokyo on Monday, public broadcaster NHK said. Announcers urged people in the areas to flee to higher ground and away from the coast.

The first tsunami waves, some more than a metre high, arrived on the north coast of central Japan on Monday after a series of powerful earthquakes rocked the region, reported Reuters.

According to the Meteorological Agency, the waves, as high as 1.2 meters or four feet, hit Wajima port in Ishikawa prefecture at 4:21 pm local time.

Footage aired by NHK appeared to show buildings collapsing in Ishikawa, and tremors shook buildings in the capital Tokyo on the opposite coast, according to Reuters.

Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says that he has instructed the government to provide clear guidance on earthquakes and tsunamis as well as check the extent of damages.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning for parts of Russia and North Korea in wake of the earthquakes in Japan.

A presenter on broadcaster NHK told viewers: “We realise your home, your belongings are all precious to you, but your lives are important above everything else. Run to the highest ground possible.”

The Japan Meteorological Agency said that the Noto region, on the Sea of Japan side of Japan’s main island of Honshu, experienced a rapid succession of quakes, starting with a 5.7 magnitude tremor at 4:06 pm.

This was followed by a 7.6-magnitude quake at 4:10 pm, a 6.1-magnitude quake at 4:18 pm, a 4.5-magnitude one at 4:23 pm, a 4.6-magnitude quake at 4:29 pm, and 4.8 magnitude quake at 4:32 pm, according to AFP.

A Japanese government spokesperson has warned residents to prepare for possible further quakes, according to Reuters.

An earthquake of magnitude 5.7 has struck near the west coast of Honshu in Japan, Reuters is reporting, citing local media.

Japan’s Hokuriku Electronic Power company says that more than 36,000 houses are experiencing a power outage following the earthquake.

According to RT, all high-speed trains have been stopped in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Hokuriku Electric Power says it is checking for any irregularities at its nuclear power plants, reports NHK.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Kansai Electric Power says there are currently no abnormalities at its nuclear power plants but the company is monitoring the situation closely.

A tsunami around 1 metre high has struck parts of the coast along the Sea of Japan with a larger wave expected, public broadcaster NHK is reporting.

A major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 hit north-central Japan on Monday afternoon.