One person is reported to have died after an earthquake hit the Japanese main island of Honshu this morning. The tremor, which struck 225 miles north-east of Tokyo, was initially measured at 7.1 on the Richter scale.

It caused damage to dozens of houses and has left at least 150 people wounded in the Ishikawa prefecture on the Noto peninsula.

Initial fears of a major tsunami resulted in warnings being issued but were ultimately proved unfounded. Two small tsunami waves, reportedly measuring around six inches in height, struck the west Honshu coast.

Meanwhile in the south Pacific region two earthquakes of similar magnitude rocked Vanuatu, an archipelago of islands, within half an hour of each other.

No injuries were reported and no tsunami warnings were issued.

Both Japan and Vanuatu are relatively prone to earthquakes as they lie on areas of tectonic instability.

Original Source: InTheNews.co.uk