Japan Tsunami Live: Met Office Warns Of More Earthquakes In Coming Days

Japan Tsunami News: Follow this space for the latest and breaking updates on the Japan tsunami.

A strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake has hit western Japan leading to massive waves in the sea as a tsunami struck the country on New Year’s day. Authorities have initiated a rescue operation and asked residents near coastal regions to move to higher reaches and evacuate immediately. According to the latest warning, very high waves are approaching the coasts. 

“Evacuate immediately. Waves can hit repeatedly. Continue to evacuate until all warnings are lifted,” the warnings said.

According to Japantimes, tsunami with waves reaching up to 3 metres were issued across the Sea of Japan coast all the way from Hokkaido to Nagasaki. The report said several aftershocks followed the initial jolt of magnitude of 7.4. It​​ struck the Noto Peninsula, with waves predicted to reach as high as 5 meters. 

The Noto area experienced seven earthquakes, while 11 had been registered across all of Japan as of 5 pm, the report added. At around 4:35 pm, waves of 80 cm reached Toyama Prefecture and waves of 40 meters also reached Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture. The warning said tsunami may hit Yamagata and Hyogo prefectures. The alert issued is of the highest level bringing back the memories of the disastrous 2011 tsunami.

The Janapntimes stated the tsunami alert issued in the Noto Peninsula area was the top-level alert out of three warnings and was equal to one issued after the March 2011 quake in the Tohoku region.

Around 33,500 households were without power after Japan quakes, reports say, as per AFP. Several major highways are closed round the epicentre of a series of major earthquakes in central Japan, the road operator says, AFP added.

People took to social media to share the moment when several tremors jolted the western region and other areas in the country. Meanwhile, no abnormality has been reported in the nuclear plant in the country.