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| Japan earthquake: tsunami warning lifted after 7.4 magnitude quake – live updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.04am GMT | |
| 04:04 | |
| Tsunami alerts lifted | |
| All tsunami warnings have now been cancelled for Japan’s Pacific coast. | |
| The Japan Meteorological Agency has confirmed: | |
| Tsunami advisories have been lifted for the following coastal regions of Japan: Iwate prefecture, Miyagi prefecture, Fukushima prefecture, Ibaraki prefecture. | |
| Slight sea-level changes may be observed in coastal regions, but no tsunami damage is expected. | |
| Pay attention when fishing, swimming or engaging in other marine activities, as there may still be slight sea-level changes.No major tsunami warnings, tsunami warnings or advisories are currently in effect. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.06am GMT | |
| 3.43am GMT | 3.43am GMT |
| 03:43 | 03:43 |
| Stock markets have rebounded after an early wobble, Agence France-Presse reports: | Stock markets have rebounded after an early wobble, Agence France-Presse reports: |
| Asian markets rose Tuesday with energy stocks tracking a surge in oil prices, while Tokyo recovered an early sell-off caused by a huge earthquake off Japan’s northeast coast. | Asian markets rose Tuesday with energy stocks tracking a surge in oil prices, while Tokyo recovered an early sell-off caused by a huge earthquake off Japan’s northeast coast. |
| The yen strengthened against the dollar after the quake as investors sought out safe haven assets but gave up most of the gains as it emerged there was no major damage. | The yen strengthened against the dollar after the quake as investors sought out safe haven assets but gave up most of the gains as it emerged there was no major damage. |
| The dollar fell to as low as 110.27 yen before bouncing back to sit at 110.70 yen, with expectations it will extend gains on bets for higher US interest rates under Donald Trump’s presidency. | The dollar fell to as low as 110.27 yen before bouncing back to sit at 110.70 yen, with expectations it will extend gains on bets for higher US interest rates under Donald Trump’s presidency. |
| Japan’s Nikkei rebounded to end the morning slightly up and at its highest mark since January. | Japan’s Nikkei rebounded to end the morning slightly up and at its highest mark since January. |
| 3.39am GMT | 3.39am GMT |
| 03:39 | 03:39 |
| 3.05am GMT | 3.05am GMT |
| 03:05 | 03:05 |
| Daniel Hurst | Daniel Hurst |
| Japan has downgraded tsunami warnings issued after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit off the country’s east coast, as the risk of major damage appeared to pass. | Japan has downgraded tsunami warnings issued after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit off the country’s east coast, as the risk of major damage appeared to pass. |
| The quake, which struck east of Fukushima prefecture at about 6am on Tuesday, prompted urgent warnings for people to leave low-lying areas in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures as a series of tsunami waves hit the shore. | The quake, which struck east of Fukushima prefecture at about 6am on Tuesday, prompted urgent warnings for people to leave low-lying areas in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures as a series of tsunami waves hit the shore. |
| The warnings allowed for the possibility of waves of up to 3m (10 feet) along the country’s north-east Pacific coast, but the highest recorded wave, of 1.4m (4.6 feet), was observed at Sendai port shortly after 8am. | The warnings allowed for the possibility of waves of up to 3m (10 feet) along the country’s north-east Pacific coast, but the highest recorded wave, of 1.4m (4.6 feet), was observed at Sendai port shortly after 8am. |
| The tsunami warnings in Fukushima and Miyagi were downgraded to the less severe status of advisories nearly four hours after the initial quake, although people were still urged to stay away from coastal areas. Similar tsunami advisories also remained in place in Iwate and Ibaraki prefectures. | The tsunami warnings in Fukushima and Miyagi were downgraded to the less severe status of advisories nearly four hours after the initial quake, although people were still urged to stay away from coastal areas. Similar tsunami advisories also remained in place in Iwate and Ibaraki prefectures. |
| There were no reports of severe injuries from the quake, which struck at a depth of 30km (18.6 miles), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The same region was hit by a series of weaker quakes in the following few hours. | There were no reports of severe injuries from the quake, which struck at a depth of 30km (18.6 miles), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The same region was hit by a series of weaker quakes in the following few hours. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.38am GMT | at 3.38am GMT |
| 2.47am GMT | 2.47am GMT |
| 02:47 | 02:47 |
| While immediate fears around the quake and tsunami appear to have calmed, many people in Japan have been shocked by the morning’s events, Agence France-Presse reports: | While immediate fears around the quake and tsunami appear to have calmed, many people in Japan have been shocked by the morning’s events, Agence France-Presse reports: |
| Residents along the coast were badly shaken. | Residents along the coast were badly shaken. |
| “It was huge and lasted so long,” Akemi Anzai, from the city of Minamisoma which lies north of the Fukushima plant, said of the quake. | “It was huge and lasted so long,” Akemi Anzai, from the city of Minamisoma which lies north of the Fukushima plant, said of the quake. |
| “The tsunami siren warning can be heard from the coastline,” she told AFP. “The ground is still shaking. I’m so scared. But my concern is rather the situation at the nuclear plant.” | “The tsunami siren warning can be heard from the coastline,” she told AFP. “The ground is still shaking. I’m so scared. But my concern is rather the situation at the nuclear plant.” |
| Some evacuees took to Twitter to express their fears. | Some evacuees took to Twitter to express their fears. |
| “I’m at a cultural centre where I evacuated during the previous disaster [in 2011],” one person tweeted in Japanese. “This reminds me of that.” | “I’m at a cultural centre where I evacuated during the previous disaster [in 2011],” one person tweeted in Japanese. “This reminds me of that.” |
| 2.15am GMT | 2.15am GMT |
| 02:15 | 02:15 |
| Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, has spoken about the earthquake from Buenos Aires, which he is visiting after attending the Apec summit in Peru: | Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, has spoken about the earthquake from Buenos Aires, which he is visiting after attending the Apec summit in Peru: |
| A strong earthquake was observed off the coast of Fukushima a short while ago and the tsunami alerts were issued. | A strong earthquake was observed off the coast of Fukushima a short while ago and the tsunami alerts were issued. |
| From my side, to the nation, we asked that proper and accurate information over the tsunami and the evacuation should be issued, and also to grasp and understand the condition of the damage as quickly as possible, and also to take proper emergency measures. | From my side, to the nation, we asked that proper and accurate information over the tsunami and the evacuation should be issued, and also to grasp and understand the condition of the damage as quickly as possible, and also to take proper emergency measures. |
| I called the chief cabinet secretary directly. | I called the chief cabinet secretary directly. |
| I would like to join hands closely with the local governments … and do our best to take appropriate emergency measures. | I would like to join hands closely with the local governments … and do our best to take appropriate emergency measures. |
| (Thanks to NHK for the translation.) | (Thanks to NHK for the translation.) |
| 1.52am GMT | 1.52am GMT |
| 01:52 | 01:52 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| 1.36am GMT | 1.36am GMT |
| 01:36 | 01:36 |
| Paul Somerville, chief geoscientist with risk frontiers at Australia’s Macquarie University, says: | Paul Somerville, chief geoscientist with risk frontiers at Australia’s Macquarie University, says: |
| This earthquake was a normal faulting earthquake that occurred at a shallow depth within the plate that overlies the Tohoku subduction zone, which generated the 2011 Mw 9.0 event. | This earthquake was a normal faulting earthquake that occurred at a shallow depth within the plate that overlies the Tohoku subduction zone, which generated the 2011 Mw 9.0 event. |
| It indicates east-west extension within the overriding plate, presumably due to the relaxation of horizontal stress that built up before the 2001 event. It occurred about 30km offshore of Fukushima. | It indicates east-west extension within the overriding plate, presumably due to the relaxation of horizontal stress that built up before the 2001 event. It occurred about 30km offshore of Fukushima. |
| It is very unlikely that this earthquake will have a large impact on Japan. | It is very unlikely that this earthquake will have a large impact on Japan. |
| 1.25am GMT | 1.25am GMT |
| 01:25 | 01:25 |
| Transport has been affected by the quake and subsequent alerts. | Transport has been affected by the quake and subsequent alerts. |
| Sendai port and Suma port have been affected by tsunami waves, although the warning has now been downgraded to an advisory. | Sendai port and Suma port have been affected by tsunami waves, although the warning has now been downgraded to an advisory. |
| Flights to and from Sendai airport have been delayed or cancelled. | Flights to and from Sendai airport have been delayed or cancelled. |
| Flights to Sendai Airport have been delayed or cancelled following a 7.4 earthquake off the coast of Fukushima. https://t.co/6DlfdBRk17 pic.twitter.com/JVguishM31 | Flights to Sendai Airport have been delayed or cancelled following a 7.4 earthquake off the coast of Fukushima. https://t.co/6DlfdBRk17 pic.twitter.com/JVguishM31 |
| 1.13am GMT | 1.13am GMT |
| 01:13 | 01:13 |
| Associated Press has more on that incident – now resolved – at the Fukushima power plant: | Associated Press has more on that incident – now resolved – at the Fukushima power plant: |
| A utility official says he believes a cooling water pump that stopped working at a Japanese nuclear power plant after a strong earthquake was shut off automatically by a safety system as the water in the pool shook. | A utility official says he believes a cooling water pump that stopped working at a Japanese nuclear power plant after a strong earthquake was shut off automatically by a safety system as the water in the pool shook. |
| The utility says a backup pump was launched to restore cooling water to spent fuel storage pool at the No 3 reactor of the Fukushima Daini plant. | The utility says a backup pump was launched to restore cooling water to spent fuel storage pool at the No 3 reactor of the Fukushima Daini plant. |
| The plant is close to the Fukushima Daiichi plant that went into meltdown in 2011 after a tsunami swamped the plant, knocking out power to the cooling systems. Both plants are operated by Tokyo-based Tepco. | The plant is close to the Fukushima Daiichi plant that went into meltdown in 2011 after a tsunami swamped the plant, knocking out power to the cooling systems. Both plants are operated by Tokyo-based Tepco. |
| Naohiro Masuda, head of Tepco’s decommissioning unit, said decommissioning work at the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi plant has been temporarily suspended because of the earthquake. | Naohiro Masuda, head of Tepco’s decommissioning unit, said decommissioning work at the destroyed Fukushima Daiichi plant has been temporarily suspended because of the earthquake. |
| 1.10am GMT | 1.10am GMT |
| 01:10 | 01:10 |
| 1.05am GMT | 1.05am GMT |
| 01:05 | 01:05 |
| Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, also addressed reporters’ questions about the Fukushima power plant. | Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, also addressed reporters’ questions about the Fukushima power plant. |
| He confirmed the affected reactor had resumed cooling function after a temporary stoppage. | He confirmed the affected reactor had resumed cooling function after a temporary stoppage. |
| Japan’s nuclear power plants have the most strict regulations in the world. | Japan’s nuclear power plants have the most strict regulations in the world. |
| We always think of the worst-case scenario … safety is the utmost priority. | We always think of the worst-case scenario … safety is the utmost priority. |
| 1.02am GMT | 1.02am GMT |
| 01:02 | 01:02 |
| Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, is speaking at a press conference. | Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, is speaking at a press conference. |
| He says tsunami warnings have been lifted and downgraded to “advisory”, adding: | He says tsunami warnings have been lifted and downgraded to “advisory”, adding: |
| Residents, please continue to evacuate … and please always listen to the latest information. | Residents, please continue to evacuate … and please always listen to the latest information. |
| Suga says a 1.4m tidal wave was observed at Sendai, and tsunami waves were observed to the Izu Islands. | Suga says a 1.4m tidal wave was observed at Sendai, and tsunami waves were observed to the Izu Islands. |
| He says it is hard to say exactly whether another quake would occur but the decision to downgrade the alert was based on information from the Japan Meteorological Agency. | He says it is hard to say exactly whether another quake would occur but the decision to downgrade the alert was based on information from the Japan Meteorological Agency. |
| Suga says the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who is overseas, “directly called me” to instruct the government to take adequate measures: | Suga says the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who is overseas, “directly called me” to instruct the government to take adequate measures: |
| The government will continue to address how many people have sustained injury. | The government will continue to address how many people have sustained injury. |
| 12.52am GMT | 12.52am GMT |
| 00:52 | 00:52 |
| Tsunami warnings downgraded | Tsunami warnings downgraded |
| Tsunami warnings for the Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures have been downgraded to alerts, a lower level of risk. | Tsunami warnings for the Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures have been downgraded to alerts, a lower level of risk. |
| People in those areas are still advised to avoid the shore. | People in those areas are still advised to avoid the shore. |
| Tsunami advisories have been lifted entirely for some coastal regions: the Pacific coast of Aomori prefecture; the Kujukuri and Sotobo area and the Uchibo area of Chiba prefecture; and the Izu islands. | Tsunami advisories have been lifted entirely for some coastal regions: the Pacific coast of Aomori prefecture; the Kujukuri and Sotobo area and the Uchibo area of Chiba prefecture; and the Izu islands. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.55am GMT | at 12.55am GMT |
| 12.46am GMT | 12.46am GMT |
| 00:46 | 00:46 |
| The epicentre of the earthquake is off the coast of Fukushima. | The epicentre of the earthquake is off the coast of Fukushima. |
| The magnitude 7.4 quake hit at a depth of around 20km, according to latest reports. | The magnitude 7.4 quake hit at a depth of around 20km, according to latest reports. |
| 12.37am GMT | 12.37am GMT |
| 00:37 | 00:37 |
| The earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo, 240km (150 miles) southwest of the epicentre. | The earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo, 240km (150 miles) southwest of the epicentre. |
| Kirsty Brown is an Australian who has been living in Tokyo with her husband and 18-month-old daughter for just seven weeks. The family lives 20 minutes from Shinkjuku, and woke up to the earthquake early this morning: | Kirsty Brown is an Australian who has been living in Tokyo with her husband and 18-month-old daughter for just seven weeks. The family lives 20 minutes from Shinkjuku, and woke up to the earthquake early this morning: |
| I’d experienced a small quake here on one of our visits several years ago. I thought my husband pushed me out of the bed that time, but this was quite a good deal stronger, and you could feel the whole house wobble. The sensation was similar to your bed suddenly deciding to zig-zag, and it lasted for around 90 seconds. | I’d experienced a small quake here on one of our visits several years ago. I thought my husband pushed me out of the bed that time, but this was quite a good deal stronger, and you could feel the whole house wobble. The sensation was similar to your bed suddenly deciding to zig-zag, and it lasted for around 90 seconds. |
| No alarms went off, no alerts came to our phones. My dog and husband rolled over and went back to sleep, but I immediately took to my phone to see if I should be getting us ready for a bigger quake. | No alarms went off, no alerts came to our phones. My dog and husband rolled over and went back to sleep, but I immediately took to my phone to see if I should be getting us ready for a bigger quake. |
| On moving here we were told about earthquake preparedness – similar to prepping for bushfires back home – so I was thinking about getting our backpack with water and clothes ready, and whether or not I needed to switch off the mains in the house. | On moving here we were told about earthquake preparedness – similar to prepping for bushfires back home – so I was thinking about getting our backpack with water and clothes ready, and whether or not I needed to switch off the mains in the house. |
| But nothing happened, and there was no commotion outside, so within 30 minutes we were peacefully back to sleep – and have just now woken up again to the sounds of the junior school across from us starting their day as usual. | But nothing happened, and there was no commotion outside, so within 30 minutes we were peacefully back to sleep – and have just now woken up again to the sounds of the junior school across from us starting their day as usual. |
| And another reader tweets me to say: | And another reader tweets me to say: |
| @Claire_Phipps Australian on hols in Tokyo, Sumida. Building was shaking and swaying for 5 mins at 6am | @Claire_Phipps Australian on hols in Tokyo, Sumida. Building was shaking and swaying for 5 mins at 6am |
| 12.31am GMT | 12.31am GMT |
| 00:31 | 00:31 |
| Nissan is suspending work at its Fukushima factory, Reuters reports: | Nissan is suspending work at its Fukushima factory, Reuters reports: |
| Nissan Motor Co said it would suspend work at its engine factory in Fukushima at least until a tsunami warning is lifted after a powerful earthquake rocked northern Japan early on Tuesday. | Nissan Motor Co said it would suspend work at its engine factory in Fukushima at least until a tsunami warning is lifted after a powerful earthquake rocked northern Japan early on Tuesday. |
| A spokesman said there were no injuries or damage at the plant, which was badly damaged in an earthquake and tsunami disaster in March 2011. | A spokesman said there were no injuries or damage at the plant, which was badly damaged in an earthquake and tsunami disaster in March 2011. |
| Separately, Toyota Motor Corp said all its factories in northeastern Japan were operating as usual. | Separately, Toyota Motor Corp said all its factories in northeastern Japan were operating as usual. |
| 12.20am GMT | 12.20am GMT |
| 00:20 | 00:20 |
| Police: two people injured | Police: two people injured |
| Japan’s National Police Agency has said two people were slightly injured during the quake. | Japan’s National Police Agency has said two people were slightly injured during the quake. |
| NHK News reports that one woman in Yabuki, Fukushima prefecture, was hurt when a cupboard fell over. | NHK News reports that one woman in Yabuki, Fukushima prefecture, was hurt when a cupboard fell over. |
| A man in Fukushima city is also reported to have suffered minor wounds. | A man in Fukushima city is also reported to have suffered minor wounds. |
| 12.16am GMT | 12.16am GMT |
| 00:16 | 00:16 |
| Experts in Australia have been assessing today’s earthquake against the devastating 2011 quake and tsunami: | Experts in Australia have been assessing today’s earthquake against the devastating 2011 quake and tsunami: |
| Professor James Goff, director of the Australia-Pacific tsunami research centre and natural hazards research laboratory, University of New South Wales, says: | Professor James Goff, director of the Australia-Pacific tsunami research centre and natural hazards research laboratory, University of New South Wales, says: |
| In general, with the size of the earthquake experienced, I would not expect any wave to reach the heights of those experienced in 2011, but that does not mean that this event will not be damaging. Tsunamis as small as 90cm can be extremely damaging and so in a sense, we are ‘watching this space’… | In general, with the size of the earthquake experienced, I would not expect any wave to reach the heights of those experienced in 2011, but that does not mean that this event will not be damaging. Tsunamis as small as 90cm can be extremely damaging and so in a sense, we are ‘watching this space’… |
| One concern is not necessarily the size of the earthquake itself but whether or not it might generate submarine landslides that can themselves generate large tsunamis. | One concern is not necessarily the size of the earthquake itself but whether or not it might generate submarine landslides that can themselves generate large tsunamis. |
| Associate professor Dale Dominey-Howes, disaster risk management expert at the University of Sydney, says: | Associate professor Dale Dominey-Howes, disaster risk management expert at the University of Sydney, says: |
| Today’s event is much smaller than the 2011 catastrophic event. The earthquake maybe an aftershock of the 2011 event. It has affected the same region as the 2011 event. | Today’s event is much smaller than the 2011 catastrophic event. The earthquake maybe an aftershock of the 2011 event. It has affected the same region as the 2011 event. |
| A regional tsunami has been generated – smaller than 2011 but still potentially dangerous. People who live in the region have been advised to evacuate, with authorities taking no chances after the 2011 disaster. | A regional tsunami has been generated – smaller than 2011 but still potentially dangerous. People who live in the region have been advised to evacuate, with authorities taking no chances after the 2011 disaster. |
| Residents in the region are still struggling to recover from the 2011 event resulting in compound socio-psychological impacts on survivors. Aftershocks will continue in the region for days to weeks to come. | Residents in the region are still struggling to recover from the 2011 event resulting in compound socio-psychological impacts on survivors. Aftershocks will continue in the region for days to weeks to come. |