Real-Time Footage: Video Captures Initial Moments Of Tsunami Striking Japan

Tsunami waves over a metre high hit central Japan on Monday following a series of powerful earthquakes that caused structural damage to homes closed highways and prompted authorities to urge people to run to higher ground.

A powerful earthquake registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck north-central Japan, leading to the issuance of a tsunami warning by the Japan Meteorological Agency for the coastal regions of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures.

The earthquake caused damage to a torii gate at a shrine in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan (AP). The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the quake affecting Ishikawa and neighboring prefectures, with one registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.4. Reports from NHK indicated waves exceeding 1 meter hitting the coast of Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture.

NHK TV alerted residents to the possibility of water surges reaching heights of up to 5 meters (16.5 feet) and advised immediate evacuation to higher ground or the top floors of nearby buildings. However, immediate reports of any casualties or damage were not available.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Japan has set up an emergency room for anyone to contact in connection with the earthquake and tsunami warnings on January 1. It has issued emergency contact numbers for Indian citizens after a strong earthquake and tsunami warnings in Japan.

Japan grapples with the haunting memory of a colossal 9.0-magnitude undersea quake off northeastern Japan in March 2011, resulting in a devastating tsunami that claimed the lives of approximately 18,500 individuals. In March 2022, a 7.4-magnitude quake off the coast of Fukushima impacted extensive areas of eastern Japan, causing three fatalities. Tokyo, the capital, endured a catastrophic earthquake a century ago in 1923.