Japan tsunami warning downgraded after series of 21 strong earthquakes

Road cracks caused by an earthquake are seen in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan on January 1, 2024. © Kyodo via Reuters

The tsunami threat from a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and a series of 20 other earthquakes measuring 4.0 or stronger that struck central Japan on Monday has "largely passed", a US agency said, after waves over a metre high had earlier hit some areas. 

 "The tsunami threat has now largely passed," the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.