A formidable 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, as reported by the USGS, leading to widespread tsunami warnings and urgent advisories for residents in the affected areas to seek higher ground.
The seismic activity occurred in the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT), prompting national broadcaster NHK to declare, “All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground.”
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned of potential hazardous tsunami waves within 300 kilometers (190 miles) of the quake’s epicenter along the Japanese coast.
A confirmed tsunami of 1.2 meters reached Wajima city in Ishikawa prefecture, with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) anticipating a much higher tsunami of five meters in Noto, the same region.
The JMA detailed a rapid succession of quakes in the Noto region, starting with a 5.7 magnitude tremor at 4:06 pm local time. Subsequent quakes included a 7.6-magnitude at 4:10 pm, a 6.1 magnitude at 4:18 pm, a 4.5 magnitude at 4:23 pm, a 4.6 magnitude at 4:29 pm, and a 4.8 magnitude at 4:32 pm. Another quake with a magnitude of 6.2 followed soon after, according to the US Geological Survey.
Broadcasters interrupted regular programming, urging affected residents to evacuate to higher ground in response to the largest of the quakes.