CCTV footage shows the moment 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, sparking TSUNAMI warning

CCTV footage shows the moment 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, sparking TSUNAMI warning

  • Earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck off the north coast of Japan Tuesday
  • Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning along the northwest
  • The bullet train service was halted and huge power outages have been reported
  • Early reports say larger than usual waves have already been seen breaking 

CCTV footage captured the moment a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit the coastal city of Niigata in Japan, sparking a tsunami warning.

Video shows the city shuddering violently after a quake hit 53 miles north of the island of Honshu, with urgent warnings going out to residents along the northwest to evacuate to high ground. 

Residents in the coastal provinces of Yamagata, Niigata and Ishikawa were rocked by the quake, which was felt throughout the country at around 10.20pm local time.

Officials immediately stopped bullet train services in the region, while Kyodo News agency reported 10,000 homes were without power and some highways were closed.

Video footage showed the city of Nigata shaking violently as the earthquake struck late on Tuesday night

The nuclear plant at Niigata is reportedly ‘offline,’ as NHK is telling people on the coast and estuary rivers to get well back from the area.

The meteorological agency said some waves were expected to have already reached some coastlines of Yamagata and Niigata.

The agency warned that it is ‘dangerous’ to stay near the coast or in the sea. ‘Do not approach or enter the sea until the advisory is lifted,’ it said.

A minor change in sea levels had already been monitored on a small island off Niigata, it added.

‘All nuclear power plants have reported no abnormalities,’ government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters. ‘Strong jolts may continue.’

Suga said authorities were checking for signs of damage or injuries. 

The United States Geological Survey clocked the earthquake at 6.5, while local media have reported other areas experiencing a 7.0 magnitude.

The earthquake is understood to have thundered around seven miles underwater in the Sea of Japan. 

People have reportedly already seen larger than usual waves breaking at beaches in the north of the country.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe headed to his office as his chief cabinet secretary held a press conference to reassure that no nuclear plants had been affected. 

Japanese weather agency Tenki issued a map showing how the quake was registered throughout the island of Honshu

Japanese weather agency Tenki issued a map showing how the quake was registered throughout the island of Honshu

The public broadcaster is carrying alerts in no uncertain terms for people to evacuate from the coast

The public broadcaster is carrying alerts in no uncertain terms for people to evacuate from the coast

Public broadcaster NHK issued warnings for people to get to high ground along the coastal region close to the epicentre of the earthquake

Public broadcaster NHK issued warnings for people to get to high ground along the coastal region close to the epicentre of the earthquake

Japan sits on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ where many of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded. 

Last June, a deadly tremor rocked the Osaka region, killing five people and injuring over 350. 

In 2011, the Fukishima nuclear disaster was triggered when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake brought colossal waves to the eastern coast.

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