Major Earthquake in Japan Triggers Tsunami Waves, Residents Asked Not to Go Home | Updates

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Japan, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said on Monday. prompting immediate tsunami warnings in Ishikawa. The highest-level Tsunami warnings, however, were dropped later but residents of coastal areas were warned not to return home.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported earthquakes off the coast of Ishikawa and nearby prefectures shortly after 4 pm, with one registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.6.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV had warned of torrents of water reaching heights of up to 5 meters urging individuals to seek refuge on higher ground.

Here are the latest updates –

• Japan dropped its highest-level tsunami alert following a series of major earthquakes earlier in the day. Residents of coastal areas, however, were told not to return to their homes as deadly waves could still come.
• As of 7 pm, multiple injuries were confirmed in Ishikawa, Niigata, and Fukui prefectures, according to information provided by fire departments and hospitals, NHK reported.
• Japan’s Defense Minister Kihara Minoru ordered Self-Defense Force personnel to the affected areas for rescue operations.
• Tsunami alerts are also in effect in South Korea, North Korea, and parts of Russia’s far east.
• Japan’s major telecom carriers reported service disruptions in the prefectures hit by the earthquakes, NHK reported.
• Shortly after the earthquake, the Japanese public broadcaster warned torrents of water could reach as high as 5 meters and urged people to flee to high land or the top of a nearby building as quickly as possible. “All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground,” national broadcaster NHK said.
• The tsunami threat from a powerful earthquake that struck central Japan on Monday has “largely passed”, a US agency said. “The tsunami threat has now largely passed,” the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
• Several major highways were closed around the epicentre, Japan’s road operator said, and Shinkansen bullet train services from Tokyo were also suspended.
• Flights and mobile phone coverage were reportedly disrupted while many convenience stores were shut.
• 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.