2-1-2024 (TOKYO) Japan is in a state of mourning as the death toll continues to climb following a series of powerful earthquakes that struck the west coast of the country. Fatalities are reported, along with extensive damage, and there remains a persistent risk of tsunamis. The local meteorological authority has issued warnings of further quakes expected throughout the week.
According to the Japanese daily newspaper “Yomiuri Shimbun,” at least 30 people have lost their lives in the severely affected Ishikawa prefecture. The tsunami warning, previously issued for the entire west coast of Japan, has now been lifted by the meteorological authority. The earthquakes have caused significant destruction.
Approximately 100,000 people were urged to seek shelter during the New Year celebrations. Numerous homes collapsed or were engulfed in flames, roads were torn apart, and tens of thousands of households were left without electricity. Multiple injuries have been reported. In the hard-hit town of Wajima in Ishikawa, local media reports indicate that over 100 homes and businesses were reduced to ashes in one neighborhood. Firefighters are still battling low flames in some areas, and thick smoke hangs over the devastated region. Other houses have either collapsed or suffered severe damage. The government has announced that around 1,000 people have been accommodated at an air force base in Wajima, where they are being provided with blankets, water, and food.
Meanwhile, the series of earthquakes continues. One particularly powerful tremor reached a magnitude of 7.6 the day prior. The epicenter was located in the Noto Peninsula area of Ishikawa Prefecture. The meteorological authority initially issued a strong warning for Ishikawa, predicting a possible five-meter tsunami, which was later lifted. However, lesser tsunami warnings remain in effect for all other coastal regions in the west.
The quake was felt across a vast area, from Hokkaido in the north to the southwestern main island of Kyushu. Several tidal waves, measuring around one meter in height, struck the coast. The tremors triggered landslides, and fallen trees obstructed roads. Numerous boats capsized in harbor basins, and burst water pipes added to the chaos. The government in Tokyo has established a crisis team, and the armed forces have been mobilized to provide disaster relief in Ishikawa.
The meteorological authority has issued warnings of additional strong earthquakes anticipated in the coming days, particularly within the first two or three days following the severe tremor on New Year’s Day. Japan, located in the Far East, is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. The nation still vividly remembers the devastating magnitude 9 earthquake that struck in March 2011, triggering a massive tsunami and resulting in the loss of approximately 20,000 lives. The catastrophe also led to a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.
