Tokyo: “Extensive damage has been confirmed, with numerous casualties, building collapses, and fires,” stated Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after a disaster response meeting in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in Japan.
Police reported six confirmed deaths, though the toll was expected to rise. Kyodo news agency indicated 13 casualties, with seven in the severely affected port of Wajima. Aerial footage revealed significant devastation, including a major fire and the collapse of a seven-storey building in the port.
The quake, measured at magnitude 7.6 by Japan’s meteorological agency and 7.5 by the US Geological Survey (USGS), triggered over 150 aftershocks in the region. Nearly 45,000 households lost power, and freezing temperatures compounded the challenges, with many cities experiencing water shortages.
While warnings of large tsunamis initially alarmed residents, Japan lifted all tsunami alerts on Tuesday. Social media shared images of violent tremors, collapsed houses, and frightened individuals seeking shelter. Firefighters in Wajima struggled to rescue people trapped under debris.
Evacuation orders affected 62,000 people, with approximately 1,000 seeking refuge at a military base. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara mobilized 1,000 military personnel for relief efforts, and around 20 military aircraft were dispatched for damage assessment.
The earthquake disrupted activities in Tokyo, shaking apartments 300 kilometers away and prompting the cancellation of a New Year greeting event attended by Emperor Naruhito. Major highways were closed, and bullet train services from Tokyo were suspended.
While Japan, accustomed to frequent earthquakes, maintains stringent building regulations and conducts regular drills, the recent quake revived memories of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. That disaster claimed around 18,500 lives and triggered a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima plant.
Japan’s nuclear authority reported no abnormalities at the Shika atomic power plant or other facilities following Monday’s earthquake. In response to the crisis, US President Joe Biden offered assistance, expressing solidarity, while French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended condolences and aid.
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