The 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck north-central Japan. There were initially no reports of casualties or damage. Tsunami warnings were issued for the coasts of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama prefectures.
An earthquake hit Japan on New Year's Day. As broadcaster NHK announced, the earthquake hit north-central Japan with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6. Initially there were no reports of casualties or damage. Tsunamis were warned for the coasts of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama prefectures, and waves up to five meters high were feared in the Noto region. The first waves have already reached land.
Residents were advised to seek higher ground. Waves more than a meter thick were measured off the coast of Ishikawa. Electricity supplier Hokuriku Electric Power said it was checking irregularities at its nuclear plants. Competitor Kansai Electric reported that there were no abnormalities at its nuclear plants in the earthquake zone.
More than 36,000 homes without electricity
According to the Austrian Seismological Service (Geosphere Austria), the earthquake occurred at 8:10 am in the Otani area. Buildings in the capital Tokyo area also began to sway due to the earthquake. There were initially no reports of damage or injuries. Images broadcast by NHK appeared to show buildings collapsing in Ishikawa. More than 36,000 homes lost power in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, utility Hokuriku Electric Power said.
Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan, killing nearly 20,000 people, devastating cities and triggering a nuclear meltdown in Fukushima. (APA)