Tsunami alerts lowered

JAPAN has dropped the highest-level tsunami alert it issued following a series of major earthquakes yesterday, but told residents in coastal areas not to return to their homes as there could still be deadly waves.

The quakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan's main island, Honshu.

It was unclear how many people might have been killed or injured.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported more than a dozen quakes in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Ishikawa and nearby prefectures shortly after 4 pm.

At least six homes were damaged by the quakes, with people trapped inside, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said.