PM Kishida speaks after major quake hit central Japan

A series of powerful earthquakes hit western Japan, leaving at least 48 people dead and damaging buildings, vehicles and boats, with officials warning people in some areas on Tuesday to stay away from their homes because of a risk of more strong quakes.

“Saving lives is the priority and we are fighting a battle against time,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday. Japan’s military dispatched 1,000 soldiers to the disaster zones to join rescue efforts and they were facing large-scale damage. Details of damaged homes were still under investigation.