A “severe tsunami warning” was issued on Monday after a strong earthquake struck northwest of the country's main island, according to Japanese state broadcaster NHK.
The Japan Meterological Agency reported a quake in Ishikawa and surrounding prefectures, one of which had a preliminary magnitude of 7.4. The US Geological Survey reported an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5.
A tsunami warning is shown on television in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, on January 1, 2024, after several strong earthquakes struck west of the country's main island. Eugene Hoshiko/AP
There were warnings of a possible tsunami reaching 5 meters (16 feet) in Ishikawa, and presenters on the national broadcaster urged people in the area to quickly move to higher ground.
“Dangerous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within a radius of 300 km.” [about 186 miles] of the epicenter along the coasts of Japan,” the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, while the Japan Meteorological Agency warned that waves could be up to five meters high.
A star indicates the epicenter of an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 that struck northeast of the main Japanese island on January 1, 2024. U.S. Geological Survey
Utilities that operate nuclear plants in the region said they were checking for irregularities but reported no immediate problems. On March 11, 2011, a severe earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan, devastating large parts of the country's coast and triggering a nuclear reactor meltdown in Fukushima.
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