Firefighters check around a collapsed house following an earthquake in Hakui

Firefighters check around a collapsed house following an earthquake in Hakui, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday. A series of powerful earthquakes hit western Japan, damaging buildings, vehicles and boats, with officials warning people in some areas on Tuesday to stay away from their homes because of a continuing risk of major quakes. At least 48 people have died after a series of powerful earthquakes, with the major one measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, hit central Japan and the surrounding areas, causing homes to collapse and triggered tsunami warnings, with search operations currently underway for possible survivors trapped underneath the rubble. (AP/PTI)