A LEADING Japanese seismologist warned the country was in danger of a major “nuclear catastrophe” four years ago, but resigned from an advisory panel after his concerns were ignored.

A state of emergency has been declared at a second Japanese nuclear power plant.

Japan is evacuating thousands of residents near a nuclear power plant after its cooling system failed following the massive earthquake.

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 magnitude-7.2 earthquake struck north-eastern Japan today, injuring 27 people, triggering small tsunamis and shaking skyscrapers as far away as Tokyo, 190 miles to the south.