① A 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan
On the first day of the new year, a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the western coast of Japan. The earthquake originated from the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, in the central part of Honshu. This seismic event triggered a tsunami, with waves reaching up to 5 meters (16.4 feet). Consequently, a tsunami warning was promptly issued for the northwestern coast, prompting residents to evacuate to safer areas urgently.
The earthquake’s impact was substantial, even reaching high-rise buildings in Tokyo, located to the south. Initially reported as a magnitude 7.4 event by Japan’s meteorological agency, it was later revised to 7.6. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated the magnitude at 7.5.
The local government swiftly established a crisis management center at the official residence in response to the earthquake. Transport authorities took preventive measures, including closing major roads near the earthquake’s epicenter and restricting vehicle traffic.
Numerous aftershocks continued to rattle the region throughout the day. In reaction to the tsunami warning, NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster, interrupted its regular broadcast and issued an urgent message on air, urging residents to evacuate immediately and drawing parallels with the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding lives.
The current death toll resulting from the earthquake stands at five individuals. Authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture have reported four casualties, with victims found in Nanao City, Wajima City, and Hakui City. The death toll increased to five following the passing of a man in his 90s in Shika Town. Most of these unfortunate fatalities were located within collapsed buildings.
Numerous injuries have been reported in five prefectures, including Ishikawa, Niigata, Fukui, Toyama, and Gifu, up until 1 a.m. on the 2nd.
Japan, a nation susceptible to earthquakes, has experienced an unparalleled seismic event in magnitude for incidents occurring off the Sea of Japan. The Noto Peninsula, the epicenter of this earthquake, has witnessed heightened seismic activity in recent years.
Over the past three years, the region has recorded over 500 earthquakes attributed to seawater infiltrating the underground areas of the Japanese mainland through the rift in the Pacific plate. Notably, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in May of the previous year, with this recent 7.6 magnitude earthquake striking just seven months later.
② Situations shared in real-time on social media
At 4:10 p.m., when a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa Prefecture, real-time surveillance camera footage from Ishikawa Prefecture showed the entire village shaking. Power outages affected 32,500 households in Ishikawa Prefecture, and communication services were disrupted in Niigata and Ishikawa Prefectures. Buildings shook, and glass windows shattered. The asphalt surface of the road cracked and became uneven. One village in Ishikawa Prefecture was reduced to rubble, with houses unrecognizable.
Fires broke out in the downtown area of Ojima City, setting buildings ablaze. Pictures, videos, and posts alerting the urgent situation were shared on social media. On X, many people used hashtags like ‘#HelpMe #SOS #NotoEarthquake’ to request rescue for their families and acquaintances.
The signboard suspended from the ceiling of a subway station experienced significant shaking and promptly lost power. Even the exhaust pipes, suspended from the ceiling, swung back and forth. A concerned citizen was observed tightly gripping a pillar to maintain their stability amidst the intense shaking. In response to the unsettling situation, individuals instinctively shielded their heads with bags and clung to the pillars to steady themselves.
A distress call came from an individual trapped in a building, urgently requesting rescue with the plea, “I can’t evacuate; please help me.”
Another online video captured the unsettling moment when an old stone lantern toppled. The footage, filmed at a shrine in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, depicted the stone lantern swaying precariously before eventually falling. The adjacent waterway, with a bridge crossing it, experienced severe shaking, and the video documented the sight of seawater rapidly flowing backward, further adding to the dramatic scene.
During the earthquake, an individual at a shopping mall in Ishikawa Prefecture shared a video capturing the unsettling situation. In the footage, the shelves and lights within the shopping mall shook violently, prompting visitors to sit on the floor while protecting their heads.
According to information from the Ishikawa Prefecture Fire Department, approximately 30 reports of houses and buildings sustaining damage have been reported. Additionally, there have been reports of two individuals in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, experiencing cardiac arrest, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for assistance and medical attention.
③ Tourists also share their experiences
After the earthquake, tourists traveling in Japan also shared their experiences. A post by a tourist at Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture at the time of the quake has drawn attention online.
One tourist said, “Water was leaking from the ceiling of Kanazawa Station, and station staff evacuated everyone outside. I was surprised by my first experience of a level 7 earthquake. I’m worried there might be problems at the airport as I’m returning home tomorrow morning.” Another tourist at Kanazawa Station said, “I was waiting for the bus in front of the station square when I thought a train was passing by,” and “When the earthquake alert appeared on my phone, I immediately ran to an open space.”
He said, “The ground was shaking, and people were having trouble keeping their balance so that I couldn’t help but laugh,” and “I stayed in a large park for an hour or two, and I didn’t dare to go eat, so much later, when I went to a convenience store, there was a long line of people buying emergency rations.” A tourist in Osaka also reported that the building shook and the elevator stopped.
By. Min Jae Kim
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