International

Major Japan quake kills six, triggers tsunami waves

TOKYO, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – At least six people died in a major earthquake that struck central Japan on New Year’s Day, triggering tsunami waves over a metre high, damaging homes and sparking a major fire that wreaked destruction overnight, authorities said Tuesday. The scale of the damage from Monday’s quake was still emerging, with news footage showing toppled buildings, sunken boats at a port, countless charred homes, and locals without power in freezing […]

Major Japan quake triggers tsunami waves, residents told to run

TOKYO, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – Tsunami waves over a metre high hit central Japan on Monday after a series of powerful earthquakes that damaged homes, closed highways and prompted authorities to urge people to run to higher ground. A major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. Japan’s weather agency reported a succession of 21 quakes of 4.0 magnitude or […]

Total of 21 quakes above 4.0 magnitude hit Japan: Met office

TOKYO, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – A succession of 21 earthquakes registering 4.0 magnitude or stronger struck central Japan in just over 90 minutes on Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The strongest jolt measured 7.6, it said. The quakes prompted tsunami warnings and authorities urged people in the area to move to higher ground.  

UPDATE: Fareastern Russia on ‘alert’ due to tsunami risk

MOSCOW, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – Russia’s Sakhalin island and the Pacific city of Vladivostok were on “alert” Monday to a possible tsunami risk after a major earthquake in Japan. The alerts came after the powerful 7.5 earthquake in Japan prompted tsunami warnings, with Japanese authorities urging people to move to higher ground. Sakhalin is an elongated island north of Japan and Vladivostok is Russia’s main Pacific city. Authorities in Sakhalin said the island’s west […]

Major highways closed near epicentre of Japan quakes

TOKYO, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – Several major highways were closed on Monday around the epicentre of a series of major earthquakes in central Japan, the road operator said. Shinkansen bullet train services were also suspended between Tokyo and the epicentre in the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture on the Sea of Japan side of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Japan Railways said.

Major Japan quake prompts tsunami warning, residents told to run

TOKYO, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – A powerful 7.5 earthquake hit central Japan on Monday, the USGS said, prompting tsunami warnings and authorities to urge people in the area to move to higher ground. “All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground,” national broadcaster NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT). Hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 300 kilometres (190 miles) of the quake’s epicentre […]

URGENT: Five-metre tsunami waves possible for 300km along Japan coast: agencies

TOKYO, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – Hazardous tsunami waves of up to five metres were possible along the north coast of central Japan on Monday within 300 kilometres of a magnitude 7.5 quake’s epicentre, US and Japanese agencies said. “Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 300 km of the epicenter along the coasts of Japan,” the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, while the Japan Meteorological Agency warned the waves could be […]

Tsunami warning after M7.5 quake in central Japan: agencies

  A powerful 7.5 earthquake hit central Japan on Monday, the USGS said, prompting Japanese officials to issue a tsunami warning and urge people in the area to move to higher ground. “All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground,” national broadcaster NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT). Hazardous tsunami waves possible along Japan coast within 300km of quake epicentre, according to the USGS […]

Xi says willing to work with US for stable relationship

BEIJING, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – China’s President Xi Jinping said Monday he was willing to work with the United States to promote stable bilateral ties, exchanging congratulations with his US counterpart on the anniversary of diplomatic relations, state media said. Xi and US President Joe Biden met in San Francisco in November, vowing to improve communication in an effort to stop competition from spilling over into conflict. And in an exchange of messages to […]

Kim tells army to ‘annihilate’ S. Korea, US if they initiate conflict

SEOUL, Jan 1, 2024 (AFP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told his top military officers to use maximum force against South Korea and the United States if they initiate a military confrontation, state media reported Monday. Seoul and Washington have ramped up defence cooperation in the face of a record-breaking series of weapons tests by Pyongyang over the past year. At a meeting with North Korea’s major commanding officers in Pyongyang on New […]

Frederik, Denmark’s ‘woke’ and popular future king

COPENHAGEN, Dec 31, 2023 (AFP) – A rebellious teen turned “woke” family man, Denmark’s future king Crown Prince Frederik is the embodiment of the country’s relaxed, liberal monarchy. Passionate about the environment, he has discreetly imposed himself in the shadow of his hugely popular mother, Queen Margrethe II, championing Denmark and its drive to find solutions to the climate crisis. “When the time comes, I will guide the ship,” he said in a speech celebrating […]