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A devastating earthquake hit central Japan today with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, prompting mass evacuations, sparking fires and leaving residents trapped under the rubble of their homes. A total of 21 quakes above 4.0 magnitude rang out shortly after 4pm local time (7am UK time), and videos shared on social media and broadcast on Japanese TV showed how buildings collapsed in Suzu, a city close to the epicentre of the largest quake, with thick cracks appearing in roads. The tremors triggered a huge fire in Wajima city, in the worst-hit Ishikawa prefecture, with shocking footage showing massive flames engulfing residential buildings according to local broadcasters. Other clips showed terrified shoppers thrown to the ground in department stores and flooding at a train station after water pipes burst, as the first tsunami waves began lashing the coastlines.
Japanese officials issued a major tsunami warning and evacuation warnings after a powerful earthquake struck the west coast on Monday afternoon.An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 struck at about 4:10 p.m. local time, with its epicenter on the Noto Peninsula, along the Sea of Japan, according to U.S. Geological Survey data.The Japan Meteorological Agency said it measured the quake at a preliminary magnitude at 7.6, adding there had also been more than a dozen smaller ones, including aftershocks.
