Summary of the day
Here are all the key developments from the aftermath of Monday’s massive earthquake in Japan, which struck the Noto Peninsula in the central prefecture of Ishikawa.
The latest report of the death toll in Ishikawa prefecture at the time of writing was at 55.
Five crew members on a coastguard plane were killed and 379 people forced to evacuate a burning Japan Airlines jet after a horrific collision on a runway at Haneda airport in Tokyo. JAL flight 516, an Airbus A350, was engulfed in flames soon after landing as it struck the smaller coastguard aircraft waiting to deliver aid to the earthquake-hit Noto peninsula.
In the morning, Japan’s prime minister said the country is facing a “battle against time” to rescue those affected by a series of major earthquakes.
South Korea offered Japan condolences but also raised concerns over a tsunami advisory that included a map of a group of its islands also claimed by Tokyo. Other world leaders extended their condolences.
The massive earthquake that hit Japan yesterday may have shifted land near the epicentre up to 1.3 meters to the west.
Residents in the regions of Japan hit by earthquakes shared tales of destruction that included buildings damaged by fire, houses flattened, fishing boats sunk or washed ashore, and highways hit by landslides. Meanwhile, evacuees built bonfires to stay warm in the aftermath of the earthquake. During the daytime, around 120 people were said to still be awaiting rescue.
I’m closing the blog now – thanks for following today.
Updated
Here’s the Guardian’s visual guide to the Tokyo airport collision, including footage shared on social media from inside the plane.
死ぬかと思った pic.twitter.com/S7rDPmyssl
— あ (@alto_maple) January 2, 2024
