Japan Issues Tsunami Warning After Strong Earthquake
Japan has issued a major tsunami warning after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the central region.
National broadcaster NHK said residents in the Coastal Noto area in Ishikawa prefecture were asked to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
NHK said waves as high as five meters had reached Noto.
Authorities have also issued tsunami warnings for neighboring Niigata and Toyama prefectures, warning that waves there could reach three meters.
Public television flashed evacuate in big letters, urging residents to flee to higher ground despite the winter weather.
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People have also posted videos of the earthquake from their homes and from inside subway stations.
Six people are reported to be trapped under the rubble of collapsed houses on the Noto Peninsula. No information on their condition is yet available.
The fires in Wajima city on the peninsula appeared to have destroyed at least half a dozen houses. There had been no reports of injuries or fatalities yet.
Residents have been evacuated to a judo and kendo dojo in the local police station but there are reported to be no emergency supplies available for them.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, the chief government spokesperson, said at a 7pm press conference in Tokyo that the Japan Self-Defense Forces were being readied for deployment to assist with rescue and aid work in the affected area.
Hiroshi Hase – the governor of Ishikawa, the hardest-hit prefecture – is reported to have been visiting Tokyo for the New Year holidays and is unable to return due to flights and trains being suspended due to the earthquake.
