Japan tsunami Jan. 1 updates | Tsunami warning lowered; evacuation orders still in place

Japan dropped its highest-level tsunami alert, issued following a series of major earthquakes on Monday, but told residents of coastal areas not to return to their homes as deadly waves could still come.

The agency initially issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of the island of Honshu, as well as the northernmost of its main islands, Hokkaido.

The warning was downgraded to a regular tsunami several hours later, meaning the waters could still reach up to 3 meters (10 feet). Aftershocks could also slam the same area over the next few days, it said.

- AP

Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) which houses the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad stated that there is no tsunami threat to India following the detection of an earthquake of about magnitude 7.5 in the Ritcher Scale at 12.40 p.m. near the west coast of Honshu in Japan

After the powerful earthquake and aftershocks, more than 32,500 homes in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture are without power, CNN reported citing Hokuriku Electric Power.

Speaking to CNN, Suzu city officials in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture have said that buildings have been damaged after the quake and there are reports of injuries.

According to Suzu police, they have received several reports regarding people being trapped in their houses, CNN reported citing NHK. The police and fire department are making efforts to assess the situation.

- ANI

The tsunami threat from a powerful earthquake that struck central Japan has “largely passed”, a U.S. agency said, after waves over a metre high had earlier hit some areas.

“The tsunami threat has now largely passed,” the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

- AFP

Japan’s Meteorological Agency said in a nationally broadcast news conference that more major quakes could hit the area over the next week, especially in the next two or three days.

More than a dozen strong quakes had been detected in the region, with risks of setting off landslides and houses collapsing, according to the agency.

The Japanese government has set up a special emergency center to gather information on the quakes and tsunami and relay them speedily to residents to ensure safety, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.

- AP

North Korea issued tsunami warnings for its east coast after a massive quake hit north central Japan, saying waves of up to 2.08 metres (6.8 ft) can reach its shore, Yonhap news reported citing the North’s state radio.

Reuters

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the Noto region experienced a rapid succession of quakes, with another 6.2 tremor hitting soon after the initial swarm, the USGS said.

The largest of the quakes prompted broadcasters to switch to special programming and make urgent calls for affected residents to leave for higher ground.

“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,” a presenter on broadcaster NHK told viewers.

AFP

South Korea’s Gangwon province warned residents to take precautions and evacuate to higher grounds after a massive earthquake hit north central Japan and triggered tsunami warnings, according the safety ministry.

South Korea’s meteorological agency earlier said sea levels in some parts of the Gangwon province on the east coast may rise after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 hit north central Japan and issued an advisory for caution.

Reuters

Japan nuclear regulation authority official says that there is no risk of radioactivity leaking from nuclear power plants in areas affected by earthquake and tsunami. 

So far nuclear power plants have the necessary power and spent fuel rods continue to be cooled, he said. “No reports so far on whether tsunami waves have reached nuclear power plants in areas impacted by earthquake, as employees are required to secure own safety first.”

Reuters

A succession of 21 earthquakes registering 4.0 magnitude or stronger struck central Japan in just over 90 minutes on January 1, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Around 33,500 households were without power around the epicentre of a series of major earthquakes in central Japan, local utilities said.

AFP

Russia declared a tsunami warning in the far eastern cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka, state news agency TASS reported, citing the cities’ mayoralties.

Several major highways were closed on January 1 around the epicentre of a series of major earthquakes in central Japan, the road operator said.

Shinkansen bullet train services were also suspended between Tokyo and the epicentre in the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture on the Sea of Japan side of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Japan Railways said.

AFP

Russia’s emergencies ministry said that parts of the western coast Sakhalin island, situated close to Japan on Russia’s Pacific seaboard, were under threat of tsunami, and that the local population was being evacuated, state news agency TASS reported on Monday.

Reuters