A potent earthquake, registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, struck the west coast of Japan on Monday, resulting in the loss of at least two lives and prompting widespread evacuations, power outages, and tsunami warnings amid New Year celebrations. The Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued a major tsunami alert for Ishikawa prefecture, reminiscent of the 2011 devastating tsunami that crippled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Additional lower-level warnings were declared for adjacent coastal prefectures, Niigata and Toyama, with observed waves reaching approximately 1 meter along parts of the Sea of Japan coast. Although the highest-level alert was later downgraded, warnings for a potential tsunami of up to 3 meters persisted.
The seismic activity, felt even in Tokyo, impacted various nuclear power plants, including Tokyo Electric Power’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility in Niigata. However, authorities reported no abnormalities in radiation levels at these facilities.
The initial quake, hitting the Noto region of Ishikawa shortly after 4 pm local time, was succeeded by robust aftershocks, with the meteorological agency cautioning of more significant tremors in the coming days.
According to the National Police Agency, at least two casualties were reported in Nanao city, Ishikawa prefecture. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi disclosed that individuals remained trapped in at least six damaged residences.
Japan, susceptible to seismic and volcanic activities, experienced a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that claimed nearly 20,000 lives. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed military, police, and fire department personnel to enter the most affected areas, ordering essential supplies to be delivered by air and sea due to damaged roads.
Over 32,000 homes lost power in Ishikawa prefecture, and TV footage displayed collapsed structures and a significant fire in Wajima city. The earthquakes disrupted bullet train services, flights, and mobile networks in the region
Social media featured distressing scenes, including collapsed roads and vehicles washed away by the tsunami. In South Korea, officials in Gangwon province urged coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground due to rising sea levels from the tsunami.
US President Joe Biden expressed readiness to provide any necessary assistance to the Japanese people, confirming ongoing communication with Japanese officials.
Greetings, readers! I’m Gaurav Ganguly, the engineer-turned-author at British Pulse. Armed with an analytical mind and a penchant for clarity, I bring you news with a unique perspective. Join me in exploring the world of current affairs through the lens of an engineer – where precision meets storytelling. Let’s decode headlines together on British Pulse.