An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 rocked a wide area on the Sea of Japan coast Monday, disrupting the festive mood of New Year celebrations, with a large tsunami warning issued for the central prefecture of Ishikawa, according to Kyodo News.
The quake, which also shook buildings in central Tokyo, occurred around 4:10 p.m., registering a maximum 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. A 1.2-meter tsunami reached Wajima Port in the region.
The quake was felt in a wide area from Aomori Prefecture in northeastern Japan to the Kyushu southwestern region. Tsunami warnings were also issued for the coastal areas of Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, and Hyogo prefectures.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged people living in regions under a tsunami warning to "evacuate immediately."
The epicenter was in the Noto region, and its depth was very shallow, according to the weather agency.
Earthquakes continued intermittently in the area. A quake with the maximum Japanese intensity of 7 was last observed in 2018 in Hokkaido.
The agency warned that earthquakes with a seismic intensity of around 7 could hit areas that were seriously affected this time over the next week, especially over the next few days.
A large-scale fire broke out in Wajima, Ishikawa, according to local governments and fire departments. Many houses collapsed in parts of Ishikawa, with approximately 32,500 homes in the prefecture losing power.
Two women were taken to hospitals after falling or being hit by falling objects in Awara, Fukui Prefecture, local authorities said. A woman in her 80s in Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, fell while evacuating and suffered a head injury.
Tsunamis were also observed in Toyama and Niigata prefectures, the meteorological agency said.
No abnormalities were reported at nuclear plants in the country after the earthquake, said the Japanese government, which set up an emergency response office at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.
The government will accurately convey evacuation information, swiftly assess the actual situation of the damage and work in tandem with local governments to safeguard human life, Kishida said.
East Japan Railway Co. temporarily suspended operations of all Tohoku, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines due to the earthquake.
