Japan issues major tsunami alert after 7.5 magnitude earthquake – live updates

Monday’s earthquake magnitude of 7.6 was the largest recorded in the Noto peninsula region of Ishikawa since 1885, when data became available, said an official from Japan’s meteorological agency.

Figures for the earthquake’s magnitude differ slightly from agency to agency, with the US Geological Survey still registering it as 7.5, while elsewhere it was initially recorded at 7.4.

Today’s major tsunami warning is the first at this level issued since the Fukushima disaster in March 2011, Japan’s metrological agency officials said.

They also said that it was the first time in the history of Ishikawa prefecture that an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7 or more was recorded.

People experiencing a tsunami of over 1 metre are considered “highly likely to be unable to stand, with possibility of death,” according to the agency.

South Korea’s eastern Gangwon province has asked people in coastal areas to evacuate amid the threat of tsunami waves after a massive earthquake hit Japan, according to Yonhap.

Residents have been urged to evacuate to higher grounds.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued a tsunami warning and said sea levels are expected to rise in parts of the East Sea.

The KMA said the tsunami could reach the coast off the eastern city of Gangneung by 6.29pm local time and the southeastern town of Pohang by 7.17pm.

Russia has issued tsunami warnings for parts of the island which are situated close to Japan on Russia’s Pacific seaboard, state news agency TASS reported on Monday, citing officials.

Parts of Sakhalin island’s western coast and the mainland cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka are under a threat of tsumani, it said.

It is not clear if evacuation of the population of at-risk areas on Sakhalin was underway.

Tsunami waves higher than 1.2m have been observed in Noto, Ishikawa prefecture, said Japan’s meteorological agency official.

Officials also warned of the risk of fires and landslides in areas hit by strong quakes.

The Japanese government has set up a special emergency centre to gather information on the quakes and tsunami and relay them to residents to ensure their safety, prime minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.

He reiterated a warning for the immediate evacuation of affected areas.

Japan is an extremely earthquake-prone nation. In March 2011, a major quake and tsunami caused meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

NHK TV footage showed a room shaken by the quake, with hanging laundry swaying from side to side and a computer on a desk rattling.

NHK reported that some electric poles were toppled and roads were cracked but reports of major damage were not immediately available.

Warnings of waves up to 3ft high were also issued for parts of North Korea and Russia.

Russian officials issued a tsunami alert for the island of Sakhalin, warning that areas across the island’s west coast could be affected by the waves.

Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said it was critical for people in coastal areas to get away from the oncoming tsunami.

“Every minute counts. Please evacuate to a safe area immediately,” he said.

A tsunami about 10ft (3m) high was expected to hit Niigata and other prefectures on the western coast of Japan. Smaller tsunami waves were already confirmed to have reached the coastline, according to NHK.

Nuclear Regulation Authority said no irregularities have been confirmed at nuclear power plants along the Sea of Japan, including five active reactors at Kansai Electric Power’s Ohi and Takahama plants in Fukui Prefecture.

Hokuriku’s Shika plant in Ishikawa, which was located the closest to the quake’s epicentre, had already halted its two reactors before the quake for regular inspection and saw no impact from the quake, the agency said.

A huge earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan on 11 March 2011, killing nearly 20,000 people, devastating towns and triggering nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima.