A tsunami alert following an earthquake off Japan's east coast, near to were the Fukushima nuclear plant is located, has been lifted.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck tonight off Japan’s east coast, near the crippled Fukushima nuclear site, the US Geological Survey said.

Heavy rain has triggered flash floods and mudslides in southern Japan, causing at least 15 deaths and leaving 11 more people missing.

Heavy rain has triggered flash floods and mudslides in southern Japan, causing at least nine deaths and leaving 18 more people missing.

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 struck under the sea several hundred miles south of Japan today, shaking buildings in the capital, but officials said there was no danger of a tsunami.

A strong earthquake registering magnitude 6.1 has shaken northern Japan, reports say.

Japan's weather agency has said a volcano in southern Japan has resumed activity.

Yaroslov Shtrombakh, a Russian nuclear expert, has said that a Chernobyl-style meltdown is "unlikely" at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant.

An explosion at a nuclear power station tore down the walls of one building today as smoke poured out and Japanese officials said they feared the reactor could melt down following the failure of its cooling system in a powerful earthquake and tsunami.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has struck central Japan, causing buildings in Tokyo to sway.

Officials urged more than 1,000 residents to seek safer ground today and expanded a no-access zone around a volcano that has exploded back to life in southern Japan.

The tsunami from Chile’s deadly earthquake hit Japan’s main islands and the shores of Russia today but the smaller-than-expected waves prompted the lifting of a Pacific-wide alert.

The first tsunami from an earthquake in Chile hit Japan’s outlying islands today, but while the initial waves were small and most of the Pacific islands already in its path were spared damage, officials warned a bigger surge could follow.

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 rattled Japan’s southern islands early today, injuring two and initially prompting fears of a tsunami.

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit off Japan’s southern coast, shaking Okinawa and nearby islands, where a tsunami warning was issued, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said.

A TSUNAMI warning was issued yesterday for several small islands after a strong earthquake shook an area off Japan’s southern coast.

Small tsunami waves caused by a powerful earthquake which hit Samoa in the Pacific Ocean reached Japan today, officials said.

Typhoon Krovanh slammed into Japan’s east coast today, bringing heavy rain and strong winds.

A series of powerful earthquakes shook remote eastern Indonesia today, toppling or badly damaging more than 100 buildings and leaving at least four people dead and dozens injured.

A powerful earthquake rattled northern Japan, injuring more than 100 people, triggering landslides and cutting power to thousands of households.

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck off the coast of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa today, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocked a rural, mountainous area of northern Japan today, killing at least three people, triggering landslides, stopping train service and knocking down a bridge.

A powerful typhoon knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes and cut off air and sea transportation as it headed directly toward Tokyo today, threatening to bring floods and landslides after dumping heavy rains on central Japan.

Japan sizzled through its hottest day on record today, as a heatwave claimed at least six lives across the country and spurred fears of an electricity shortage.

A strong earthquake hit near Sakhalin island in Russia’s Far East today, reportedly killing one person and sending small tsunami waves to northern Japan.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's north-west coast today, killing at least five people.

STRONG aftershocks rattled Japan’s main island yesterday as residents cleared out debris after a powerful earthquake on Sunday killed at least one person and injured more than 200 people.

Authorities hailed Japan’s new earthquake alert system a success today after it allowed officials to issue a tsunami warning just one minute after a magnitude-6.9 quake jolted the country’s coast.

A powerful, deadly earthquake struck Japan early today, killing a 52-year-old woman and injuring 80 others as it shook buildings and triggered a small tsunami that hit the coast.

A powerful magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck off Japan’s northern coast in the Pacific today, sparking tsunami warnings and sending thousands of residents along the archipelago’s eastern coast fleeing to higher ground, officials said.

A huge 8.3 magnitude earthquake off Japan’s northern coast sparked a tsunami warning today, sending thousands along the archipelago’s eastern coast fleeing to higher ground.

A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.6 struck north-western Japan today, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, the Meteorological Agency said.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency says a one-meter-high tsunami is headed for east coast of Philippines.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe agreed with US President George Bush to take “decisive action” against North Korea at the UN Security Council over its nuclear weapons test.

Kyodo News agency in Tokyo, Japan, reports magnitude 4.9 quake in north-eastern North Korea at suspected test site, citing the Meteorological Agency.

US government officials said a wide range of agencies were looking into claims by North Korea that it had performed its first-ever nuclear test today.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 rattled southern Japan today, the Meteorological Agency said. There were no reports of injuries or serious damage.

A strong earthquake of magnitude 5.9 shook north-eastern Japan today, followed by at least three large aftershocks.

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook central Japan today, but there was no danger of a tsunami, the Meteorological Agency said.

Hundreds of thousands of homes were without power in central and western Japan today after a record snowfall that also forced the suspension of train services and closed an international airport.

China is considering building a dam to reduce the impact of a river-borne toxic spill expected to arrive in a Russian city early next week, a government newspaper said today.

A strong earthquake shook northern Japan today and the country’s Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings.

A strong earthquake hit northern Japan today, the Meteorological Agency said, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

A powerful tropical storm churned northward in the sea between Japan and the Korean Peninsula today, leaving landslides and flooded towns in its wake.