Earthquake in Japan: Earlier today, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck the island country, causing the first tsunami waves to reach. Japan’s official broadcaster NHK reported that a tsunami approximately one meter high impacted portions of the west coast in the Sea of Japan, with a greater wave predicted.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami warnings for the coastal prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama. Niigata and Toyama prefectures saw waves reaching up to 3 metres. Tsunami alerts have been issued for prefectures on the west coast of Japan.
According to the forecast, a 5-metre-high tsunami is expected in Noto, a town located in Hōsu District in the Ishikawa Prefecture. The authorities have urged people in the affected areas to evacuate immediately. “Escape to a higher, safe location right away,” the authorities said as per NHK.
The alert further stated that the time of the tsunami’s arrival was just an estimate as waves could arrive sooner or later. “Continue to evacuate as long as the warning is in place.”
Videos and pictures of damage have started appearing on social media. Greg R. Hill, a writer, shared video footage from the local Shinkansen station in Ishikawa prefecture. “Extremely powerful shaking!” he wrote while posting the video in which a stationary train can be seen shaking.
Earlier today, a massive magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan. A major tsunami warning was immediately issued for Ishikawa Prefecture. Tsunami warnings were also issued for Niigata, Toyama, Yamagata, Fukui, and Hyogo prefectures along the Japan Sea coast.
NHK reported that very high waves were approaching the coasts. “Evacuate immediately. Waves can hit repeatedly. Continue to evacuate until all warnings are lifted,” it said in repeated warnings posted on its site.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has issued tsunami alerts for North Korea and Russia’s far eastern region.
A video footage of a damaged house has appeared on social media while there have been no reports of casualties so far.
Several houses and power poles have collapsed in Ishikawa Prefecture’s Suzu City, reported NHK. An earthquake with an intensity of upper six on the Japanese intensity scale of 0 to seven was observed in the city. A guard at the city office in Ishikawa’s Wajima City said that all the shelves in the office were collapsed. The building was not largely damaged, but the ground in front of it and several buildings fell down, he said.
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