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The death toll of powerful earthquakes which rocked Japan on New Year’s Day has risen to 30.
Officials are warning people in some areas to stay away from their homes due to the risk of further strong quakes due to the aftershocks.
The initial 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s western coast on Monday, triggering a major tsunami warning, and there’s a risk of more tremors throughout the day on Tuesday with around 100 already reported.
Follow the latest updates on the Japan earthquake in our live blog
Authorities in the Ishikawa prefecture have confirmed 30 people have died, while seven others were seriously injured.
They said damage to homes was so great that it could not immediately be assessed – but Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said their priority is saving lives.
Smoke rises in Suzu after the area was hit by up to metre-high waves (Picture: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
A car was crushed by a collapsing building in Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture (Picture: REUTERS)
There has been significant destruction (Picture: Fred MERY/AFP)
He said: ‘Saving lives is our priority and we are fighting a battle against time. It is critical that people trapped in homes get rescued immediately.’
A further 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck the area as Mr Kishida was speaking.
Japan’s military dispatched 1,000 soldiers to the disaster zones to join rescue efforts, he said, stressing they were facing ‘large-scale damage’.
On Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu, as well as for the northern island of Hokkaido.
The warning was downgraded several hours later, and all tsunami warnings were lifted early on Tuesday – although waves measuring more than one metre (three feet) hit some places.
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