A powerful earthquake has triggered a tsunami warning off Japan's west coast

A series of powerful earthquakes off central Japan's west coast triggered tsunami warnings on Monday and residents were urged to seek higher ground. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the Noto region, on the western side of Japan's main island of Honshu, was hit by a total of about 20 earthquakes, starting with a magnitude 5.7 earthquake at 4:06 p.m. local time. .

It was followed four minutes later by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake, followed by magnitude 6.1 at 4:18 pm, magnitude 4.5 at 4:23 pm, magnitude 4.6 at 4:29 pm, and magnitude 4.8 at 4:29 pm. Earthquake at 4:32 p.m.

In Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 1, 2024, after several powerful earthquakes struck the west of the country's main island, a tsunami warning was shown on TV.

Eugene Hoshiko/AP


The first tsunami waves, about four feet high, hit the port of Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture an hour after the quakes hit, and there were warnings that another 16-foot tsunami could hit Ishikawa.

Presenters on national broadcaster NHK urged people in the region to drop everything and quickly move to higher ground.

“The dangerous tsunami waves from this earthquake are 300 km [about 186 miles] The epicenter of the earthquake was off the coast of Japan,” the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, while the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of waves up to five meters high.

A star marks the epicenter of the 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck northeast of the main island of Japan on January 1, 2024.

US Geological Survey


Power companies that operate nuclear power plants in the region said they were checking for irregularities, but said there were no immediate problems, and the government later appeared to ensure the safety of the plants.

“It has been confirmed that there are no abnormalities at Shiga Nuclear Power Plant [in Ishikawa] and other stations are currently available,” national government spokesman Hayashi Yoshimasa said, according to AFP news agency.

The earthquakes caused damage, however, as video broadcast by NHK showed buildings collapsing in Ishikawa. On the other side of Japan, the network said buildings were all shaken in the capital Tokyo, and Yoshimasa said authorities were still checking the extent of damage in affected areas to the west.

More than 36,000 homes in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures were without power, Reuters news agency reported, citing utility provider Hokuriku Electric Power.

A big one On March 11, 2011, an earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern JapanIt devastated much of the country's coastline and fueled a nuclear meltdown at Fukushima.

See also  Sam Altman has been reappointed as OpenAI's chief executive

JP Morgan expects to cut the base rate by 100 basis points this year

At the start of the month Wall Street was hopeful—but not convinced—that it would get a much-anticipated interest rate cut in September. Fed Chairman Jerome...

There are great players and potential matches

NFL Guardian Here's what we know about Caps right nowGuardian caps provide added protection over the helmets of players in inherently violent sports. Are...

Nasdaq falls as investors put their time ahead of Nvidia earnings

Shares of Coles ( KSS ) rose as much as 7% in early trading after the company beat Wall Street's revenue expectations by 15...

Dinosaur footprints found on two continents match

The video shows a large dinosaur with identical green bonesThe 150-million-year-old bones discovered in Utah will go on display at the Natural History Museum...

HMD’s Barbie Flip Phone is tough

HMD's Barbie-branded flip phone may be a bit late to catch the hot foldable summer wave, but it's certainly not lacking in appeal. Pre-announced...

Mark Zuckerberg says White House pressured Facebook to censor Covid-19 content | Meta

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has said he is bowing to what he says is pressure from the US government to censor Facebook and Instagram...