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Series of earthquakes hit Japan; Power outage, scores of homes reduced to rubble

Multiple quakes struck Ishikawa, Niigata, Fukui Prefectures, and the cities of Wajima, Nanao and Suza with the first one reported at about 4:06 in the afternoon. Read More

Monday January 1, 2024 11:26 PM, Agencies

Tokyo: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on Richter scale hit central Japan Monday January 01, 2024 reducing scores of homes to rubble, power outage and ripped up roads.

One person has been reported killed after a building in Shika town collapsed, while Japan's National Police Agency reported that two people in Ishikawa prefecture suffered cardiac arrests - their condition is not known.

Multiple quakes struck Ishikawa, Niigata, Fukui Prefectures, and the cities of Wajima, Nanao and Suza with the first one reported at about 4:06 in the afternoon.

60 quakes in quick succession

According to Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the earthquake began with a 5.7 magnitude earthquake at 4:06 pm (local time). This was followed by a 7.6-magnitude quake at 4:10 pm (local time), a 6.1 magnitude quake at 4:18 pm (local time), a 4.5 magnitude one at 4:23 pm (local time), a 4.6 magnitude quake at 4:29 pm (local time) and a 4.8 magnitude quake at 4:32 pm (local time).

These quakes were followed by more tremors with reports that the central region of the country was hit by as many as 60 quakes in quick succession, according to BBC.

Officials in Suzu City in Ishikawa Prefecture say several houses and power poles have collapsed there following the earthquake, according to national broadcaster NHK.

Kyodo news citing local governments reported that about 32,500 homes in Ishikawa Prefecture are without electricity.

Bullet trains have been suspended between Tokyo and the earthquake epicentre in the Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Railways said.

Images carried by local media showed a building collapsing in a plume of dust in the city of Suzu and a huge crack in a road in Wajima where panicked-looking parents clutched their children. There have been reports of at least 30 collapsed buildings in Wajima, a town of around 30,000 known for its lacquerware, and a major blaze has engulfed several buildings, according to Reuters.

The quake also jolted buildings in the capital Tokyo, some 500 km from Wajima on the opposite coast.

Tsunami Warning

Following the series of earthquakes, authorities issued Tsunami alerts and evacuation advisories for people on the country's northwestern coast, local media reported.

Local residents have been urged to immediately leave the coastal areas and move to top of buildings or higher land as waves up to 5 metres hit the coast of Noto in Ishikawa following the Tsunami warning, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

Watch Video

this horrible moment 😢#Tsunami #地震　#緊急地震速報　#津波の映像　#避難　#最大震度7 #earthquake #japanearthquake #Japan
pic.twitter.com/ZDU5ZI71lL

— Sunil Choudhary (@sunildhojak) January 1, 2024

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned that people experiencing a Tsunami of over 1 metre were considered “highly likely to be unable to stand, with the possibility of death”, according to The Japan Times.

Several videos on social media showed buildings shaking violently, prompting people to rush for cover beneath chairs and tables and raging tsunami waves threatening to inundate coastal areas.

 

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