A strong earthquake struck central Japan – the first day of the New Year – killing at least 30 people, as police and prefectural authorities announced early today, Tuesday, that bodies had been recovered from under the rubble of collapsed buildings, while the government ordered the evacuation of more than 51,000 people in 5 prefectures. .
The earthquake, which initial reports indicated had a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale, occurred on Monday afternoon. Later, the Japanese agency confirmed that it recorded about 100 tremors in the region after the earthquake.
The earthquake destroyed buildings, cut off power from tens of thousands of homes, and forced residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher areas.
It also caused waves – about a meter high – in areas along the western coast of Japan and neighboring South Korea.
Rescue operations
Army personnel were sent to assist in rescue operations, and a local airport was closed after the earthquake caused cracks in its runway.
The extent of the damage and the number of victims are still unclear nearly a day after the disaster, as major roads leading to the most affected areas were severely damaged, which undermined rescue efforts.
The Japanese Broadcasting Corporation reported that doctors were unable to reach the hospital in the severely damaged town of Suzu, adding that the hospital relied on a backup electricity generator due to the power outage.
Wajima city officials in Ishikawa said a fire broke out in the city center, damaging more than 50 shops and homes.
Japan is constantly witnessing earthquakes due to their occurrence in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” region, which witnesses high seismic activity. This region extends from Southeast Asia to the Pacific basin, so the authorities in the archipelago impose strict building standards so that buildings are generally resistant to strong earthquakes, and residents are accustomed to For these situations they prepare regularly.
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2024-01-02 05:24:08
