At the begining of 2024, a huge earthquake has just hit Japan. Check out the latest terrible reports below.
Massive earthquake rocks Japan
According to a new report from Reuters, a powerful earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, killing at least one person, destroying buildings, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes, and prompting residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground.
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale has struck Japan’s west coast and South Korea, causing waves of about 1 meter.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued tsunami warnings for the prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama and authorities have warned that larger waves could follow.
A major tsunami warning was initially issued for Ishikawa but it was later downgraded and eventually cut to an advisory. This means that waves up to 1 meter (3 foot) high could be expected.
This is the first major tsunami warning since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan.
The United States Geological Survey reported that the recent earthquake in the region was the strongest one in over forty years.
In response to the earthquake, Russia and North Korea issued tsunami warnings for some areas.
The earthquake caused the destruction of houses, fires, and casualties, leading to the dispatch of army personnel to aid in rescue operations. According to local police cited by broadcaster NTV, one elderly man died as a result of a building collapse in Shika Town in Ishikawa.
“The snow from the electric wire (came) down, and also from the roof it fell down and all the cars are shaking, and so everybody was panicked,” Jonny Wu, a Taiwanese tourist visiting nearby Nagano prefecture for a skiing holiday, told Reuters.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has instructed search and rescue teams to do everything possible to save lives despite the difficult access to quake-hit areas due to blocked roads.
More strong quakes could occur over the coming days, warned JMA official Toshihiro Shimoyama, as seismic activity has been simmering in the area for more than three years.
The government has ordered more than 97,000 people in nine prefectures on the western coast of Japan’s main island Honshu to evacuate as of Monday night. Kishida also advised residents to prepare for more disasters in his comments to the press shortly after the quake struck.
“I urge people in areas where tsunamis are expected to evacuate as soon as possible,” Kishida said.
The Imperial Household Agency said that following the disaster it would cancel Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako’s slated New Year appearance on Tuesday.
