A Foreign Office travel alert has been issued for Japan after a tsunami was triggered by a series of deadly earthquakes.
At least 48 people are reported to have been killed in the Ishikawa prefecture on the country’s west coast, the epicentre of Monday’s 7.6-magnitude earthquake.
Around 1,000 members of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces – the country’s equivalent to an army – were involved in search and rescue efforts in quake-hit areas, Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida has said.
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With a tsunami warning lifted, they would now try and establish sea routes to reach the isolated parts of the northern Noto peninsula, where the earthquake struck.
Local reports said that about 500 people were stranded in a parking lot at Noto airport, waiting in buses and other vehicles after the terminal building sustained extensive damage.
The tremors caused several cracks on the runway, closing the domestic airport until at least Thursday.
In updated travel advice issued early today (Tuesday), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: “A series of earthquakes hit the Noto peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture on 1 January 2024, causing minor tsunami, several fires and significant infrastructure damage in various parts of Ishikawa prefecture.
“Further aftershocks remain a possibility and transport links are disrupted.
“If you are in the affected areas, please follow the instructions from the local authorities and check the latest information on [public broadcaster] NHK World news.
“The affected areas include the Sea of Japan coast in: Ishikawa, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, Hyogo, Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Kyoto, Tottori and Shimane prefectures, plus Iki & Tsushima Islands.
“Further information can be found on the Japan Meteorological Agency website and the Japan National Tourism Agency website.”
Prime minister Rishi Sunak, who offered support to Japan, said: ”British nationals in the affected areas should follow the advice of the Japanese authorities.”