The Japan Meteorological Agency said the country had been hit by 155 earthquakes since the initial tremor on Monday [Kyodo via Reuters]
Published January 2, 2024
At least 48 people reported dead since the magnitude 7.6 quake struck the west coast on New Year’s Day.
At least 48 people have been reported dead after a massive earthquake hit the coast of central Japan on New Year’s Day.
Authorities raised the death toll on Tuesday afternoon. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has warned that the damage is “widespread,” and with rescue teams struggling to access some remote areas, it is feared that casualties could rise.
The magnitude 7.6 quake struck on Monday afternoon near the Noto peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture, triggering the country’s first major tsunami warning since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that had about 18,500 people declared dead or missing in the northeast.
Speaking on Tuesday, Kishida said “extensive damage” had been confirmed with the earthquake bringing down buildings and triggering fires.
“The search and rescue of those impacted by the quake is a battle against time,” the prime minister said.
Moreover, Kishida said rescuers were finding it very difficult to access the northern tip of the Noto peninsula where helicopter surveys had discovered many fires and widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.aljazeera.com
RELATED: Watch: Japan Rocked by 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake, Multiple Dead
Published January 1, 2024
Japan rang in the New Year with a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that killed at least four people and caused massive property damage.
“The quake struck at 4:10 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) in the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa prefecture, according to the United States Geological Survey,” noted CNN.
“The quake collapsed buildings, cased [sic] fires and triggered tsunami alerts as far away as eastern Russia, prompting orders for residents to evacuate affected coastal areas of Japan,” it added.
At least 31 smaller aftershocks continued through the day, which will likely continue for days and months to follow. One particularly harrowing story involved 1,400 passengers stranded inside high-speed bullet trains roughly ten hours after the main earthquake.
An estimated 8,500 military personnel have been deployed to aid in the relief effort. President Joe Biden has already said that the United States “stands ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Japanese people.”
Photos and videos of the aftermath have gone viral on social media:
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.breitbart.com
RELATED: ‘Battle against time’ to find quake survivors as Japan lifts tsunami warnings and death toll rises
Damaged buildings are seen after multiple strong earthquakes hit the area previous day on January 2, 2024 in Anamizu, Ishikawa, Japan.
Published January 2, 2024
Scenes of devastation emerged along Japan’s western coast Tuesday as rescuers raced to save residents trapped in the rubble of a 7.5 magnitude quake that has triggered multiple aftershocks and killed dozens of people.
The quake shook the Noto Peninsula in the central prefecture of Ishikawa on Monday afternoon, collapsing buildings, sparking fires and triggering tsunami alerts as far away as eastern Russia.
At least 48 people had been confirmed killed as of Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for Ishikawa prefecture confirmed to CNN.
And five people were killed at Tokyo Haneda airport on Tuesday when a Japan Airlines jet collided with a coast guard plane on its way to provide earthquake relief.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency lifted all tsunami advisories along portions of the country’s western coast Tuesday, but more than 24 hours after the quake struck, there has been limited access to the northern part of the secluded Noto Peninsula.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters after a disaster emergency meeting Tuesday that a destroyed road had cut access to the area.
Officials in helicopters had flown over the peninsula, known for its coastal scenery and rural landscapes, and reported seeing damaged roads, landslides and large fires, he said.
“To secure the route there, we are to mobilize all the means of transport, not only on the ground but also by aerial and marine transport. We have been making an effort to transfer goods, supplies and personnel there since the last night,” Kishida said.
The central city of Wajima, home to more than 27,000 people, appeared to be among the worst hit. Wajima city officials told CNN that 15 people were confirmed dead there.
The coastal city is famous for its morning market and fine traditional lacquerware, but early surveys from the air on Tuesday revealed smoldering fires and large plumes of smoke engulfing streets of destroyed buildings.
READ FULL ARTICLE
SOURCE: www.cnn.com
