A series of powerful earthquakes hit central Japan on Monday, damaging homes and triggering tsunami waves over a metre high.

Six people were buried alive after the 7.6-magnitude quake struck the Noto peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture at about 4.10pm local time, followed by a further 21 quakes of at least 4 magnitude in about 90 minutes.

The first tsunami waves, 1.2 metres high, hit Wajima port ten minutes later.

Tsunami warnings were also issued in Russia as well as North and South Korea. The major tsunami warning for Ishikawa’s Noto region was later downgraded, but 3m waves are still possible and people were urged to continue evacuating.

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