Japan Powerful Earthquake Killed Over 200 People

Japan – The death toll from the powerful earthquake in central Japan on January 1, has reached 202, while at least 102 people are still missing as search for survivors continues, autorities said on Tuesday. 

As earlier reported, Japan officially issued a major tsunami warning, after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit the central region. 

"Residents in the coastal area of Noto in Ishikawa prefecture are asked to evacuate to higher ground immediately," the national broadcaster NHK said. 

Authorities have warned of waves as high as 5 meters in Noto. They also issued tsunami warnings for neighboring Niigata and Toyama prefectures, where they said waves could reach 3 meters. 

Public television broadcast the words "EVACUATION" in large letters, and urged residents to evacuate to higher ground despite the winter weather. Locals also uploaded videos of the quake from their homes and from inside subway stations. 

In addition, the country's largest nuclear power plant operator, Kansai Electric, said there were no abnormalities at nuclear power plants in the affected region. 

South Korea's meteorological agency has warned that tsunami waves as high as 0.3 meters could hit the country's east coast between 6:29 p.m. and 7:17p.m. local time.