TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares plunged Thursday after the World Health Organization declared a coronavirus pandemic and indexes sank on Wall Street.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 dived 4.9% to 18,468.99. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 6.6% to 5,348.60. South Korea's Kospi dipped 4.7% to 1,815.98. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 3.8% to 24,269.06, while the Shanghai Composite index shed 1.3% to 2,928.80.

Thailand's benchmark plunged 8%.

"Even though we do have substantial support coming through from governments and central banks alike, the dispersion of the virus so far continues to mark the risks of dra...