Six People Killed and 97 Thousand Others Displaced Due to the 7.6 Richter Scale Earthquake that Rocked Japan

JAKARTA - At least six people died as a result of a major earthquake that rocked Japan on Monday, causing tens of thousands of people to flee and tens of thousands of buildings to be affected, while the warning of a major tsunami threat has been lifted by local authorities.

The earthquake occurred at 16.10 local time at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, according to the United States Geological Survey, as reported by CNN, January 2.

An elderly man was declared dead after a building collapsed in Shika City, Ishikawa Prefecture, according to a report by NTV television station citing local police, quoted by Reuters.

Meanwhile, Kyodo News reported four deaths in Ishikawa, citing the Prefectural Crisis Management Team, including a man and woman in their 50s, a boy and a man in his 70s.

The Asahi newspaper quoted police as saying a man in his 90s had been pulled from the rubble of a building and taken to hospital but was confirmed dead.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters late Monday that search and rescue teams were proving difficult to reach the worst-hit areas because of blocked roads.

The Japanese government said as of Monday evening it had ordered more than 97,000 people in nine prefectures on the west coast of the main island of Honshu to evacuate. They spent the night in the school's sports hall and sports hall, which is usually used as an evacuation center in emergencies.

The quake collapsed buildings, sparked fires and triggered a tsunami warning to residents of Japan's west coast. The alert has been downgraded to a warning. A tsunami warning is issued when waves are estimated to reach a height of 3 meters (9.8 feet).

Tsunami waves as high as about 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) were reported in Wajima City, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said.

Tsunami warnings along parts of Japan's west coast have been canceled as the threat of additional large waves recedes. Although the threat of larger waves has passed, a tsunami warning for waves up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) remains in effect.

Separately, the United States Geological Survey noted that at least 31 smaller aftershocks were reported near the area where the earthquake occurred. The agency said aftershocks could continue for days to months afterward.

Yesterday's earthquake also left at least 1,400 passengers stranded on a high-speed bullet train for more than 10 hours, according to an NHK report.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said yesterday's earthquake caused damage to roads in central Japan, collapsed buildings, caused fires and disrupted communications. At least 33,000 households were affected by the power outage

Meanwhile, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said at least 8,500 military personnel were on standby to help with emergency efforts after the earthquake.

Nearly 33,000 households were still experiencing power outages in Ishikawa prefecture as of Tuesday morning, according to the Hokuriku Electric Power website.

Following the disaster, the Imperial Household Agency said it would cancel Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako's New Year's appearance on Tuesday.