NEW DELHI : Japan has experienced a staggering 155 earthquakes since Monday, with a 7.6-magnitude quake and another surpassing 6 on the Richter scale, according to a report by the news agency AFP, citing the country’s meteorological office. The powerful earthquake triggered tsunami waves over a metre high, causing extensive damage, including homes being damaged and a major fire that wreaked havoc overnight.
Effect of Earthquake that hit Japan, roads cracking and pavements rising #Japan #JapanEarthquake #JapanTsunamipic.twitter.com/QLQHADtRI7
— Jesvin George (@Jesvinquote) January 2, 2024
Local media broadcasted news footage revealing the aftermath: buildings reduced to rubble, sunken boats at ports, charred homes, and residents without power in freezing temperatures. Tragically, at least six people have lost their lives, and reports from police and local authorities on Tuesday indicated bodies being recovered from collapsed buildings.
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According to news agency AFP, Japan’s Meteorological Office confirmed that all tsunami warnings and advisories, instituted on Monday, have now been lifted. Nonetheless, officials caution that small changes in tidal levels remain a possibility.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed the gravity of the situation, acknowledging the earthquakes’ toll, stating, “Very extensive damage has been confirmed, including numerous casualties, building collapses, and fires.” He emphasised the urgent need for rescue efforts, describing it as a “race against time.”
Someone recorded this during the earthquake in #Japan #earthquake #Tsunami pic.twitter.com/At9r4LNt7c
— Ⓧ (@Pinkiliciouus) January 2, 2024
With the tsunami warning lifted, Prime Minister Kishida outlined the government’s plan to establish sea routes to reach isolated areas in the northern Noto peninsula. Approximately 100 members of the self-defence forces are actively engaged in search and rescue operations in the affected regions.
Earlier, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) cautioned that individuals facing a tsunami exceeding 1 metre were “highly likely to be unable to stand, with the possibility of death,” according to The Japan Times. Tsunami warnings were issued for the western coastal regions of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures, with waves reported to reach up to 3 metres in other affected areas.
Disturbing videos circulated on social media captured the intense shaking of buildings, prompting people to seek cover beneath tables and chairs. The footage also depicted menacing tsunami waves threatening to engulf coastal areas. The earthquakes resulted in flattened houses and cracked roads in the affected regions, portraying the profound impact of this seismic event on the affected communities.