Central Japan was rocked by a powerful earthquake, unleashing devastation that claimed several lives, reduced buildings to rubble, severed power to tens of thousands of homes, and compelled coastal residents to seek refuge on higher ground.
The earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, rippled across Ishikawa prefecture, leaving a trail of destruction and prompting officials to confirm four fatalities as reported by Kyodo news agency early on Tuesday.
Waves measuring approximately 1 meter (3 feet) surged along Japan’s west coast and adjacent South Korea on Monday, with authorities cautioning the possibility of larger waves to ensue.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) swiftly issued tsunami warnings for Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures.
Although initially labeled a major tsunami warning, the first since the catastrophic events of March 2011, it was subsequently downgraded and ultimately shifted to an advisory.
Russia and North Korea also issued tsunami warnings for specific areas, heightening concerns across the region.
Government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi conveyed reports of numerous collapsed houses and fires, prompting the dispatch of military personnel for rescue operations.
As the authorities grapple with assessing the extent of the damage, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged search-and-rescue teams to deploy all available resources to save lives.
Amid the chaos, NHK footage captured the unsettling collapse of buildings in Ishikawa, while tremors reverberated through structures in Tokyo, located on the opposite coast.
Hokuriku Electric Power reported over 36,000 households losing power in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures.
Despite the earthquake’s proximity to nuclear power plants along the Sea of Japan, including the active reactors at Kansai Electric Power’s Ohi and Takahama plants in Fukui prefecture, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority affirmed no irregularities.
Japan, being one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, faced a grim reminder of its vulnerability.
Memories of the devastating March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which claimed nearly 20,000 lives, loom large, emphasizing the nation’s perpetual battle with seismic threats.
The latest catastrophe serves as a somber testament to the ongoing seismic activity, with the Japan Meteorological Agency cautioning the possibility of additional strong quakes in the coming days.