TOKYO: A major earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale has struck Japan, triggering a tsunami warning and causing significant damage. At least six homes have been reported damaged, with people trapped inside. Over 30,000 households are without electricity, prompting a large-scale rescue effort involving Japan’s military.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported a succession of 21 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 or stronger in just over 90 minutes. The strongest jolt measured 7.6, marking the strongest recorded earthquake in the Noto Peninsula region in Ishikawa prefecture since 1885. Japanese media footage shows panicked residents running through the streets, with red smoke spewing from a residential neighborhood fire.
Takashi Wakabayashi, a convenience store worker in Ishikawa prefecture, reported items tumbling from shelves, attributing the biggest problem to the large crowd rushing to stock up on essentials such as bottled water, rice balls, and bread.
Major Earthquakes in Japan
This seismic event comes nearly 13 years after the devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011 that triggered a tsunami, resulting in the loss of over 18,000 lives, destruction of communities along the northeast coast, and nuclear contamination from a damaged nuclear plant.
The earthquake is the first major event to prompt a tsunami warning since March 11, 2011, and the first earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7.0 in Japan since September 2018. Flights to Niigata and Ishikawa regions have been canceled, and Japanese authorities are assessing the extent of the damage.
As a precaution, North Korea has issued tsunami warnings for its east coast, while South Korea’s Gangwon province has advised residents to evacuate to higher ground. The Meteorological Agency warns of the potential for more major quakes in the region, emphasizing the heightened risk of fires and landslides.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged residents to prepare for potential aftershocks and emphasized that authorities are still assessing the situation.
