A powerful 7.5 earthquake hit central Japan on Monday, the USGS said, prompting tsunami warnings and authorities to urge people in the area to move to higher ground.”All residents must evacuate immediately to higher ground,” national broadcaster NHK said after the quake hit the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm (0710 GMT).

Hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 300 kilometres (190 miles) of the quake’s epicentre along the Japan coast, the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

A tsunami of 1.2 metres was confirmed to have arrived in Wajima city in Ishikawa prefecture.

But a much higher tsunami of five metres was expected to arrive in Noto in the same region, the Japan Meterological Agency (JMA) said.

The JMA said the Noto region, on the Sea of Japan side of Japan’s main island of Honshu, experienced a rapid succession of quakes, starting with a 5.7 magnitude tremor at 4:06 pm local time.

This was followed by a 7.6-magnitude quake at 4:10 pm, a 6.1 magnitude quake at 4:18 pm, a 4.5 magnitude one at 4:23 pm, a 4.6 magnitude quake at 4:29 pm, and 4.8 magnitude quake at 4:32 pm.

Another quake with a magnitude of 6.2 hit soon after, the US Geological Survey said.

The largest of the quakes prompted broadcasters to switch to special programming and make urgent calls for affected residents to leave for higher ground.

“We realise your home, your belongings are all precious to you, but your lives are important above everything else. Run to the highest ground possible,” a presenter on broadcaster NHK told viewers.

Japan has strict construction regulations intended to ensure buildings can withstand strong earthquakes and routinely holds emergency drills to prepare for a major jolt.

But the country is haunted by the memory of a massive 9.0-magnitude undersea quake off northeastern Japan in March 2011, which triggered a tsunami that left around 18,500 people dead or missing.

The 2011 tsunami also sent three reactors into meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing Japan’s worst post-war disaster and the most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

In March 2022, a 7.4-magnitude quake off the coast of Fukushima shook large areas of eastern Japan, killing three people.

The capital Tokyo was devastated by a huge earthquake a century ago in 1923.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s Fighter is one of the most anticipated films of 2024. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film is an aerial action entertainer. Now, amidst speculation around the film’s run time, the director has shared the real duration of the film.

Siddharth Anand took to X to share the run time of Fighter. He wrote, “#Fighter run time rumours. Real run time is under 2 hours 40 minutes.”

Check it out here:

#Fighter run time rumours. Real run time is under 2 hours 40 minutes

— Siddharth Anand (@justSidAnand) December 31, 2023

For the unversed, rumours about the film having a run time of 3 hours and 10 minutes circulated a while ago.

Fighter will mark Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s first onscreen collaboration. The film will see them play pilots. The film also features Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi in pivotal roles. 

Fighter will be released on January 25, 2024. 

SEE ALSO: Siddharth Anand, “Deepika Padukone is doing a lot of action and crazy stuff in Fighter”

Ira Khan, daughter of Aamir Khan, is preparing to wed her long-time boyfriend, Nupur Shikhare, on January 3, 2024. Just days before the ceremony, Ira shared a heartwarming photo with Nupur on her Instagram stories.

The picture captured Ira and Nupur seated outdoors, both beaming at the camera. Nupur leaned affectionately against Ira’s shoulder while she rested her hand on him. Ira donned a black outfit layered with a brown sweater, while Nupur opted for a black leather jacket. 

Recent reports disclosed details about their upcoming wedding reception. It’s anticipated to be a lavish affair in Mumbai following their intimate ceremony, likely occurring after January 10. The guest list is expected to include numerous Bollywood celebrities.

Ira has been actively sharing glimpses of her pre-wedding celebrations on Instagram. Photos from her Maharashtrian festivities showcased the presence of her family and friends. In one video, guests, including Aamir’s former wife Kiran Rao and their son Azad Rao Khan, were seen enjoying dinner together, creating a warm atmosphere.