CNN World Powerful earthquake hits western Japan, triggering tsunami warnings By Helen Regan and Sana Noor Haq, CNN Updated 7:17 a.m. ET, January 1, 2024

CNN World

Powerful earthquake hits western Japan, triggering tsunami warnings

By Helen Regan and Sana Noor Haq, CNN

Updated 7:17 a.m. ET, January 1, 2024

What we're covering

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck western Japan on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Tsunami warnings have been issued along coastal regions of western Japan and people have been urged to evacuate.

The first tsunami waves of 1.2 meters (4 feet) and under have hit a number of areas along Japan's western coast. A major tsunami warning was still in place in the city of Noto, with waves of around 5 meters (16.4 feet) expected.

The earthquake had a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), and struck at 4:10 p.m. local time northeast of Anamizu in Ishikawa prefecture, according to USGS.

Several aftershocks have been reported, with Japan’s weather agency warning they could continue over the next three days to a week.

CNN Underscored

The 14 best nose hair trimmers for quick and painless hair removal

The 14 best nose hair trimmers for quick and painless hair removal

The essentials list: ‘Unstable’ star Rob Lowe shares his top wellness picks

The essentials list: ‘Unstable’ star Rob Lowe shares his top wellness picks

17 Posts

SORT BY

Latest

2 min ago

Japan downgrades "major tsunami warning" for city of Noto 

From CNN's Hanako Montgomery 

Japan's Meteorological Agency have downgraded the "major tsunami warning" issued for Noto in Ishikawa prefecture to a "tsunami warning," according to public broadcaster NHK. 

Agency officials switched the warning at around 8:30 p.m. local time, about four hours after the 7.5 magnitude quake struck western Japan on Monday.

Tsunami warnings are issued when waves are expected to be 3 meters (9.8 feet) or above. 

The last time a major tsunami warning was issued in Japan was in 2011, when a devastating tsunami with 30-foot waves hit after a 9.1 magnitude quake struck 370 kilometers (230 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

4 min ago

Buildings damaged, power outages, roads closed and communications disrupted following earthquake

From CNN's Jennifer Hauser

People walk along a road damaged by an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, on January 1.

People walk along a road damaged by an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, on January 1. Kyodo/Reuters

The powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake that hit western Japan on Monday has disrupted communications, forced road closures and flattened buildings, according to officials.

At least five highways have been closed, said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

Six people are reportedly trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Ishikawa prefecture, Yoshimasa added, according to NHK.

The power converter at the Shika nuclear power plant in Ishikawa prefecture has been affected but with "no major results," Yoshimasa told reporters. There has been no other abnormality other than that, he emphasized.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no problems were found with the reactors at the power plant, NHK reports.

Some background: A devastating 9.1 magnitude quake struck near the east coast of Japan in 2011, triggering a tsunami with 30-foot waves that damaged several nuclear reactors in the area.

The tsunami sent water flooding into the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, causing the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. At the time of the earthquake, Japan had 54 nuclear reactors, with two under construction, and 17 power plants, which produced about 30% of the country's electricity.

Since then, the public has been skeptical about nuclear power and Japan has made strict safety updates at plants throughout the country.

In recent years the country has also imported greater amounts of natural gas and coal to meet its energy needs.

CNN's Rhea Mogul, Junko Ogura and Tetsu Sukegawa contributed reporting.

48 min ago

Doctors unable to travel to work due to damaged roads, as wounded patients arrive at hospital in Suzu city

From CNN's Jennifer Hauser

Some doctors cannot treat patients wounded by an earthquake on Monday because damaged roads mean they are unable to travel to work, according to health officials in Suzu city in Ishikawa prefecture.

Images emerged of huge cracks in roads in western Japan, disrupting transport services and causing extensive damage to infrastructure.

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck at 4:10 p.m. local time in western Japan on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Hospital officials in Suzu city said the facility is operating on a spare generator because of a power outage, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

Medical staff at another hospital in the city of Wajima have been treating patients in a parking lot, according to NHK.

48 min ago

Authorities working to assess any quake damage, Japanese prime minister says

From CNN's Mayumi Maruyama

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to the media at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, following the earthquake on January 1. 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to the media at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, following the earthquake on January 1. JIJI Press/AFP/Getty Images

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says authorities are working to assess any damage following Monday's 7.5 earthquake in western Japan.

"In response to the M7 earthquake at Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture, we have immediately set up the Prime Minister’s Office of Response - Disaster Counter Measure HQ," the prime minister wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.

"Putting human lives as priority, we are making every effort to assess damages - putting forth all efforts in disaster response. For those in affected areas, please pay close attention to the latest information and place personal safety as your priority."

1 hr 4 min ago

Here's where tsunami warnings have been issued in Japan

From CNN's Emiko Jozuka, Alex Stambaugh, Gawon Bae and Sana Noor Haq

Authorities in western and coastal regions of Japan have warned residents of tsunami waves after a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked the East Asian country on Monday afternoon local time.

The quake struck around 42 kilometers (26 miles) northeast of Anamizu in Ishikawa prefecture, triggering several aftershocks, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Tsunami waves have been reported in several areas and officials have warned that more waves are expected, advising people in affected areas to evacuate to higher ground.

Under Japan's tsunami warning system, waves expected less than 1 meter fall under "tsunami advisory," while waves expected above 3 meters fall under "tsunami warning" and waves expected above 5 meters fall under "major tsunami warning."

 

Japan Meteorological Agency 

Tsunami warnings have been issued for:

Wajima City: The city of Wajima in Ishikawa prefecture reported tsunami waves of around 1.2 meters (3.9 feet), Japanese public broadcaster NKH said. The waves hit around 4:21 p.m. local time -- soon after the earthquake.

Toyama City and surrounding areas: Other areas along the western coast of Japan reported waves of less than 1 meter, including Toyama city, Kashiwazaki and Kanazawa port, Tobishima island and Sado island. 

Noto City: The city of Noto in Ishikawa prefecture remains under a major tsunami warning, with waves of around 5 meters (16.4 feet) expected, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. This is the first major tsunami warning issued since 2011, according to a spokesman from Ishikawa prefecture’s disaster management agency. In 2011, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck 370 kilometers (230 miles) northeast of Tokyo. More than 20,000 people died or went missing in the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which saw 30-foot waves. 

Outside Japan: A tsunami threat was also declared in the eastern Russian cities of Vladivostok, Nakhodka, and the island of Sakhalin, according to Russian state media TASS. The areas face onto the Sea of Japan. Meanwhile, the South Korean Meteorological Administration is watching for possible sea level changes in several areas along its east coast, including in Gangneung, Yang Yang and Goseong in Gangwon province and Pohang city in north Gyeongsang province.

1 hr 29 min ago

Japan’s weather agency warns of aftershocks following powerful earthquake 

From CNN's Mayumi Maruyama, Jen Hauser and Alex Stambaugh

Japan’s weather agency warned that powerful aftershocks could continue over the next three days to a week after a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck near Ishikawa prefecture on Monday afternoon, triggering tsunami warnings.

The agency urged people to be cautious of potential building collapses and possible landslides in areas where heavy shaking has been observed.

Aftershocks are occurring in a wide area, the agency added.

According to the United States Geological Survey, at least 14 smaller aftershocks were reported near the region where the 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck.

PSuzu city officials say buildings have been damaged in Japan quake, reports of people trapped

From CNN's Mayumi Maruyama and Jennifer Hauser

Suzu city officials in Japan's Ishikawa prefecture have told CNN buildings have been damaged following Monday's quake and there are reports of injuries.

Images on Japan's public broadcaster NHK show houses shaking. 

Meanwhile, Suzu police said they've received several reports of people trapped in their houses, according to NHK. The police and fire department are trying to gauge the situation.

1 hr 59 min ago

Bullet train services suspended in parts of Japan after powerful quake

From CNN's Eric Cheung in Taipei, Taiwan

Some services of Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains have been suspended after a powerful earthquake struck Japan on Monday, according to the website of train operator JR East.

The JR Hokuriku and Joetsu Shinkansen lines are suspended as of 6:50 p.m. local time, following a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake and several powerful aftershocks, it said.

The train operator added that services on other lines are also experiencing delays.

2 hr 50 min ago

Tsunami threat issued in parts of eastern Russia following Japan quake, state media reports

From CNN's Darya Tarasova

A tsunami threat has been declared in the eastern Russian cities of Vladivostok, Nakhodka, and the island of Sakhalin following the 7.5 earthquake in Japan, Russian state media TASS reported Monday.

The areas face onto the Sea of Japan.

No evacuations have been reported so far.

3 hr 14 min ago

South Korea watching east coast sea levels following Japan quake

From CNN's Gawon Bae in Seoul

The South Korean Meteorological Administration is watching for possible sea level changes in several areas along its east coast following the 7.5 earthquake that hit western Japan Monday.

The areas being monitored include Gangneung, Yang Yang and Goseong in Gangwon province and Pohang city in north Gyeongsang province.

2 hr 58 min ago

More than 32,500 homes without power after powerful earthquake 

From CNN's Emiko Jozuka in Tokyo 

A collapsed house is seen following an earthquake in Wajima, Japan, on January 1. 

A collapsed house is seen following an earthquake in Wajima, Japan, on January 1. Kyodo/Reuters

More than 32,500 homes in Japan's Ishikawa prefecture are without power after the area was struck by a powerful earthquake and aftershocks on Monday, according to Hokuriku Electric Power. 

Tsunami warnings have been issued along coastal regions of western Japan, and people have been urged to evacuate following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

1 hr 49 min ago

Tsunami waves reported in western Japan coastal regions 

From CNN's Emiko Jozuka in Tokyo and Alex Stambaugh 

TV screens in Osaka, Japan, show news of an earthquake that struck western Japan and subsequent tsunami warnings in the affected regions, on January 1. 

TV screens in Osaka, Japan, show news of an earthquake that struck western Japan and subsequent tsunami warnings in the affected regions, on January 1. Kyodo News/Getty Images

The city of Wajima in Ishikawa prefecture has reported tsunami waves of around 1.2 meters (3.9 feet), according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.  

The waves were reported to have struck around 4:21 p.m. local time — shortly after a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the area.

There were no immediate reports of damage. 

A number of other areas along the western coast of Japan have reported tsunami waves less than 1 meter, including Toyama city, Kashiwazaki, Kanazawa port, Tobishima island and Sado island. 

More waves expected: The city of Noto in Ishikawa prefecture remains under a major tsunami warning with waves of around 5 meters expected, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. 

Under Japan's tsunami warning system, waves expected less than 1 meter fall under "tsunami advisory," while waves expected above 3 meters fall under "tsunami warning" and waves expected above 5 meters fall under "major tsunami warning."