NANAO, Japan – Japan on Tuesday struggled to assess the extent of damage from an earthquake that struck its western coast, killing at least a dozen people, destroying buildings and major roads, and knocking out power to residential areas in freezing temperatures.
An earthquake with an initial magnitude of 7.6 struck midday on Monday, prompting residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground as tsunami waves of about 1 meter (3.3 feet) hit Japan’s western coast.
Thousands of military personnel, firefighters and police officers from around the country have been dispatched to the worst-hit areas on the relatively remote Noto peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture.
However, rescue efforts were hampered by badly damaged and blocked roads and one of the airports in the area was forced to close due to runway cracks.
Many train, ferry and flight services to the area have also been suspended.
“Finding and rescuing those affected by the earthquake is a battle against time,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during an emergency disaster meeting on Tuesday.
Kishida said rescuers were finding it difficult to reach the northern tip of the Noto peninsula because of damaged roads, and helicopter surveys had found numerous fires and extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
A damaged car stands near collapsed houses, following an earthquake, in Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan January 2, 2024. REUTERS An aerial view shows collapsed houses, cars and roads following an earthquake in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan January 2, 2024. via Reuters
Local media reported more than a dozen deaths had been confirmed so far, mainly in the hard-hit town of Wajima near the epicenter where a large fire broke out on Monday.
The national police agency said six people had been confirmed dead, and the fire and disaster management agency said 19 people were in cardiac arrest.
More than 140 tremors have been detected since the first quake struck on Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Local residents rest at an elementary school acting as an evacuation shelter after an earthquake hit the region in Kanazawa, Japan. via REUTERS
The agency has warned more strong shocks could hit in the coming days.
Nobuko Sugimori, a 74-year-old resident of Ishikawa’s Nanao town, told Reuters he had never experienced such an earthquake before.
“I tried to hold the TV set to prevent it from falling, but I couldn’t help myself from rocking violently from side to side,” said Sugimori from his home, which has a large crack in its front wall and furniture scattered around inside.
An aerial view shows buildings collapsing as a result of the earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture. via REUTERS
Across the street, a car is crushed under a collapsed building where residents are having another close call.
Fujiko Ueno, 73, said nearly 20 people were at her home celebrating the new year when the quake struck but miraculously all were unhurt.
“It all happened in the blink of an eye,” he said, standing on the road amid debris and mud pouring out of the cracked road surface. An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the Ishikawa region in central Japan on Monday.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that the United States is ready to provide any necessary assistance to Japan after the earthquake.
“As close allies, the United States and Japan share a deep bond of friendship that unites our people. Our thoughts are with the Japanese people at this difficult time,” he said.
The Japanese government ordered more than 97,000 people to evacuate their homes on Monday night, sending them to sports halls and school gymnasiums, which are commonly used as evacuation centers during emergencies.
Many returned to their homes on Tuesday when authorities lifted the tsunami warning.
But about 33,000 households remained without power in Ishikawa prefecture early Tuesday morning, according to Hokuriku Electric Power’s website. Much of the northern part of the Noto peninsula also has no water supply, NHK reported.
The Imperial Household Agency said it would cancel Emperor Naruhito and Emperor Masako’s scheduled New Year’s visit on Tuesday following the disaster. Kishida postponed his New Year’s visit to Ise Shrine that was scheduled for Thursday. An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the Ishikawa region in central Japan on Monday
NUCLEAR PLANTS
The earthquake comes at a sensitive time for Japan’s nuclear industry, which has faced strong opposition from some locals since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered the nuclear crisis in Fukushima. The entire city was destroyed in the disaster.
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority said no irregularities were found at nuclear plants along the Sea of Japan, including five active reactors at Kansai Electric Power’s Ohi and Takahama plants in Fukui Prefecture.
Hokuriku Electric’s Shika plant, the closest to the epicenter, had stopped two of its reactors before the quake for routine inspections and saw no effects from the quake, the agency said.
Chip material maker Kokusai Electric said it was investigating further after finding some damage at its plant in Toyama ahead of plans to resume operations on Thursday.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
