The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) website has reported significant seismic activity, including a major tsunami warning.
Specific details mention a series of strong earthquakes in the Hokuriku region since around 4:00 PM on January 1.
The JMA observed a magnitude 7.6 earthquake in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture around 10 minutes later, issuing a tsunami warning.
The agency held a press conference after 6:00 PM on the same day to provide updates.
Due to the tendency of false information spreading on social media during disasters, the JMA emphasized the importance of relying on trustworthy government accounts.
The seismic event is referred to as the "Reiwa 6 Noto Peninsula Earthquake."
The earthquake occurred at around 4:10 PM on January 1, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, originating near the east-northeast of Wajima in the Noto region, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Shiga Town in Ishikawa recorded seismic intensity 7, and seismic activities ranging from strong (6) to weak (1) were observed from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
As of 5:30 PM on January 1, there have been 19 earthquakes with intensity 1 or higher, including one with intensity 7, three with intensity 5.5, and eight with intensity 4.
Large tsunami warnings were issued for Noto in Ishikawa, and tsunami warnings for Ishikawa, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, Hyogo, while tsunami advisories were announced for Hokkaido, Fukuoka, Saga, and others.
Past tsunami records indicate waves exceeding 1.2 meters in Noto's Wajima Port, 0.8 meters in Toyama, and 0.4 meters in Kashiwazaki City, among other locations.
The JMA advises vigilance for earthquakes of a similar magnitude occurring within a week of a major earthquake based on historical data. Additionally, residents in coastal and riverside areas are urged to evacuate to higher ground promptly due to the issued tsunami warnings.