An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 slams Japan

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on January 1. 

The public broadcaster NHK reports.

As a result, a tsunami threat has arisen in coastal areas.

About 33,000 homes in the central prefecture of Ishikawa were cut off from power due to the earthquake. In the neighbouring Toyama Prefecture, cracks in roads and burst water pipes were reported in several places.

At the same time, no damage was found at the Fukushima Daiichi 1 and 2 NPPs after the earthquake. There are also no deviations at the Ohi and Takahama plants in Fukui Prefecture.

Residents of coastal areas should immediately evacuate to safe places. The meteorological agency says the waves will hit the shore in bursts, so residents should stay in safe places until the warning is lifted. And in areas affected by the strong tremors, the risk of landslides and building collapses has increased. People are being urged to be prepared for future seismic activity throughout the week.