Major Japan quake kills four, triggers tsunami waves

TOKYO — At least four people have been confirmed dead after a major earthquake struck central Japan on Monday (Jan 1), triggering tsunami waves over a metre high, damaging homes and sparking a major blaze. The 7.5-magnitude quake struck Ishikawa prefecture on the Sea of Japan side of the main island of Honshu at 4.10 pm (3.10pm SGT)), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Japanese authorities put the magnitude at 7.6 and said that it was one of more than 50 quakes of 3.2 magnitude or more to rock the region on the New Year’s Day holiday — when families get together and visit shrines — over several hours. Television channels interrupted normal services with special programming, including a…