Japan was struck by a number of earthquakes, the largest of which was a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that produced five-foot tsunami waves near Noto in the Ishigawa prefecture. Along with the suspension of bullet train services, the impacted areas experienced power outages and disruptions in communication.
Following a string of powerful earthquakes on Monday, authorities in Japan issued evacuation orders and tsunami warnings for residents near the country’s northwest coast, resulting in five-foot tsunami waves, according to local media.
The earthquake struck Ishikawa and neighboring prefectures, with one of them having a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), as reported by The Associated Press. The local meteorological agencies reported that after the earthquake, tsunami waves were expected to be seen within 300 kilometers of the epicentre in Noto, Ishigawa.
At 4:06 p.m. (local time), a 5.7 magnitude earthquake sparked the event. Subsequently, there were six earthquakes recorded in the area: a 7.6-magnitude one at 4:10 pm, a 6.1-magnitude one at 4:18 pm, a 4.5-magnitude one at 4:23 pm, a 4.6-magnitude one at 4:29 pm, and a 4.8-magnitude one at 4:32 pm.
Seconds later, according to the US Geological Survey, there was another earthquake of magnitude 6.2.
Following the tsunami warning, waves up to five meters hit the coast of Noto in Ishikawa, prompting people to flee coastal areas and seek higher ground or buildings, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. According to the local Met office, up to 21 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 were noted, the AFP news agency said.
According to The Japan Times, the JMA issued a warning, stating that individuals who experienced a tsunami of more than one meter were “highly likely to be unable to stand, with the possibility of death.
According to Reuters, the JMA issued tsunami warnings for the western coastal regions of the prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama. There were reports of waves as high as three meters in other prefectures, such as Niigata and Toyama, according to NHK.
Social media users shared videos of buildings trembling violently, sending people running under tables and chairs for safety, and roaring tsunami waves that threatened to submerge coastal areas.
Numerous houses were completely destroyed by the earthquakes, and the impacted areas’ roads developed cracks.
Following a string of earthquakes and tsunami warnings, local media reported that Shinkansen bullet train services in central and eastern Japan had been suspended.
Following the tsunami, almost 34,000 households were left without power. In central Japan, close to the epicentre, several important highways were closed. In Ishikawa and Niigata, there were problems with phone and internet service.
According to utilities provider Hokuriku Electric Power, more than 36,000 households in the prefectures of Ishikawa and Toyama had lost power.
Additionally, it stated that it was monitoring any anomalies at its nuclear power facilities, according to Reuters, which cited NHK.
PM FROM JAPAN ASK PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO TSUNAMI WARNINGS
A tsunami advisory has been released by the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan, instructing authorities to take comprehensive damage prevention measures, as well as to promptly and accurately inform the public about the tsunami and the need for people to evacuate.
Additionally, it requested that authorities prioritize saving lives and rescuing those who are stranded in coastal areas where tsunami waves have been sighted, as well as assessing any potential damage and working closely with local governments.
People in the impacted areas were advised to “continue to pay close attention in case of strong earthquakes” by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The Japan Times cited him as saying, “I would like to request that people evacuate as soon as possible from areas where tsunamis are expected.”
In addition to posting emergency numbers and email IDs for assistance, the Indian Embassy in Tokyo has established an emergency control room that anyone can contact.
