Tokyo Airports evacuated following major earthquake

UPDATE 6.08PM: Haneda Airport is reopening two of its runways to handle incoming flights.

Passengers at Tokyo's major international airport, Narita, have been evacuated from Japan's main flight gateway after what the United States Geological Survey is reporting as a magnitude 8.9 earthquake.

Haneda Airport, previously a domestic airport but recently opened to international flights after the completion of a new terminal, is also closed.

All main line trains and metro subways in Tokyo have been halted, and many stations are reported to be evacuated. 

Tsunami warnings have been issued for all islands of Japan, with reports of six-metre tsunamis hitting many ports and coastal areas.

Coastal airports including Sendai International Airport are particularly likely to be in danger.

Images from Twitter, including this from user @serkantoto, are providing the first glimpses of earthquake evacuations at Tokyo airports.

Reports are coming in of buildings that have either partially or totally collapsed in several eastern Japanese cities.

More coverage of the Tokyo earthquake and tsunami:

Australian Government says no tsunami risk to Australia

Sendai Airport hit by tsunami triggered by Japan earthquake

Jetstar planes flying into earthquake hit Tokyo, Japan

BREAKING: Major earthquake in Japan: Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports closed

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.