LIVE: First Tsunami Waves Follow 7.5 Quake in Japan, Residents Urged to Evacuate

Hyderabad: A robust 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, according to the USGS, leading to the issuance of tsunami warnings and urgent appeals from authorities for residents in the affected area to relocate to elevated ground. Following the quake in the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT), NHK, the national broadcaster, emphasized the imperative for all residents to evacuate promptly to higher ground.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, headquartered in Hawaii, cautioned about the potential of hazardous tsunami waves within 300 kilometers (190 miles) of the quake's epicenter along the Japanese coast.

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Jan 01, 2024 06:00 PM IST: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says authorities are working to assess damage following Monday's 7.5 earthquake in western Japan.

Jan 01, 2024 05:55 PM IST: South Korea's east coast reports a tsunami under one meter following a significant earthquake in Japan.

Jan 01, 2024 05:45 PM IST:  Japan has downgraded the 'Major Tsunami Warning' to a 'Tsunami Warning' for the Noto region.

Jan 01, 2024 05:30 PM IST: According to an NHK report, Wajima city fire department in Japan has received at least 30 reports of buildings collapsing as a series of over 21 earthquakes hit the Japanese archipelago within a span of 90 minutes.

Jan 01, 2024 05:15 PM IST:  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.

Jan 01, 2024 05:00 PM IST: Japan issues additional earthquake warning for Ishikawa Prefecture.

Jan 01, 2024 04:15 PM IST: Russia's Pacific seaboard regions, including Sakhalin Island and Primorsk and Khabarovsk, face a potential tsunami threat after the Japan earthquake.

Jan 01, 2024 04:00 PM IST: The Indian Embassy in Japan establishes an emergency room for assistance following the earthquake and tsunami warnings on January 1. For support, contact the provided emergency numbers and email IDs mentioned in the embassy's statement.
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."

Jan 01, 2024 03:50 PM IST: Japan quake prompts tsunami warning – Residents urged to run.

Jan 01, 2024 03:40 PM IST: Residents seek higher ground at a school parking space in Wajima after a tsunami warning, emphasizing the swift response to the earthquake's impact.

Jan 01, 2024 03:30 PM IST: A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake strikes off the Noto Peninsula on Japan's northwest coast, prompting a widespread tsunami warning with anticipated heights of up to five meters (16 feet) in some areas. The quake triggers responses such as halted train services, power plant operations cessation, and checks on nuclear reactors, leading Japan to issue a tsunami warning for almost its entire western coast.

Jan 01, 2024 03:05 PM IST: Ishikawa prefecture in Japan receives another earthquake warning, according to Reuters.

Jan 01, 2024 03:00 PM IST: Tsunami warnings issued for Japanese prefectures Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama, and Russia's Vladivostok and Nakhodka.

Jan 01, 2024 02:50 PM IST: Central Japan rattled by 21 earthquakes, strongest at 7.6 magnitude, prompting tsunami warnings and urgent evacuations.

Jan 01, 2024 02:42 PM IST: Japan issues new earthquake warning for Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama, Nagano prefectures, Reuters reports.

Jan 01, 2024 02:40 PM IST: Japan records 21 earthquakes over 4.0 magnitude, according to the Meteorological Office.

Jan 01, 2024 02:35 PM IST: Approximately 33,500 households experience power outage following strong earthquakes in Japan.

Jan 01, 2024 02:23 PM IST: Bullet train services halted between Tokyo and Noto region's earthquake epicenter in Ishikawa prefecture, reports Japan Railways.

Jan 01, 2024 02:20 PM IST:  Major highways closed near central Japan's earthquake epicenter, says road operator, following a series of powerful quakes.

Jan 01, 2024 02:10 PM IST: First tsunami waves, over a meter high, hit central Japan's north coast after powerful earthquakes, per Reuters. Waves, up to 1.2 meters, struck Wajima port at 4:21 pm local time, says the Meteorological Agency.

Jan 01, 2024 02:06 PM IST: NHK broadcasted footage that show buildings collapsing in Ishikawa, while tremors were felt in buildings in the capital Tokyo on the opposite coast, according to Reuters.

Jan 01, 2024 02:01 PM IST: Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has directed the government to offer explicit guidance on earthquakes and tsunamis while assessing the extent of damages.

Jan 01, 2024 01:59 PM IST: In the aftermath of the earthquakes in Japan, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning for certain areas of Russia and North Korea.

Jan 01, 2024 01:55 PM IST: A presenter on NHK broadcaster emphatically urged 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.”

Jan 01, 2024 01:50 PM IST: The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a series of rapid-succession earthquakes in the Noto region on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu. The sequence began with a 5.7 magnitude tremor at 4:06 PM, 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 a 4.8 magnitude quake at 4:32 PM, according to AFP.

Jan 01, 2024 01:43 PM IST: Reuters reports that a spokesperson for the Japanese government has cautioned residents to be ready for potential additional earthquakes.

Jan 01, 2024 01:41 PM IST: According to local media, Reuters reports that an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 has hit near the west coast of Honshu in Japan.

Jan 01, 2024 01:37 PM IST: Following the earthquake, over 36,000 households are currently without power, says Japan's Hokuriku Electric Power company.

Jan 01, 2024 01:33 PM IST: All high-speed train services have come to a halt in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Jan 01, 2024 01:30 PM IST: NHK reports that Hokuriku Electric Power is examining its nuclear power plants for any irregularities. Simultaneously, a representative from Kansai Electric Power reassures that their nuclear power plants currently show no abnormalities but confirms vigilant monitoring of the situation.

Jan 01, 2024 01:27 PM IST: Public broadcaster NHK reports that a tsunami measuring approximately 1 meter in height has impacted coastal areas along the Sea of Japan, and there are anticipations of a larger wave.

Jan 01, 2024 01:20 PM IST:  A major earthquake with an initial magnitude of 7.6 struck the north-central region of Japan.