Japan news agency : Even after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the region a day earlier, aftershocks were still rattling Ishikawa prefecture and neighboring territories.
At least 48 people have died as a result of a string of strong earthquakes that struck western Japan, damaging thousands of homes, cars, and boats. There may be additional earthquakes in the future, officials cautioned.
One day after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the region on Monday afternoon, aftershocks were being felt in Ishikawa prefecture and the surrounding territories.
Officials reported that 48 persons were confirmed killed in Ishikawa. According to them, residences had damage so severe that it was not possible to evaluate it right away, and sixteen more people suffered significant injuries.
According to claims in the Japanese media, tens of thousands of homes were damaged. Speaking on behalf of the government, Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that he was aware of the prefecture’s death toll but that 17 people had suffered serious injuries.
In several places, there were still outages of cell phone service, water, and electricity, and the locals lamented their ruined houses and uncertain futures.
It is more than simply a mess. There is a see through to the adjacent room because the wall has collapsed. A resident of Ishikawa named Miki Kobayashi declared, “I don’t think we can live here anymore,” as she swept around her home.
Even though the number of casualties progressively increased, at least some of the damage looked to have been contained because to the early public warnings that were disseminated by phones and broadcasts, as well as the swift action of both the people and officials.
The swift actions taken by the military, police, and firefighters to rescue the victims served as evidence of how resilient this country has become in the face of frequent natural calamities.
Professor Toshitaka Katada of the University of Tokyo, who specializes in disaster relief, stated that since the region has experienced earthquakes recently, residents were ready. Plans for evacuation and emergency supplies were prepared.
In a phone conversation, he declared, “It is likely the only people on the planet who are as prepared for disasters as the Japanese.”
Katada issued a warning, saying that things are still unstable and uncertain. There had been other earthquakes in northeastern Japan prior to the March 2011 quake and tsunami.
It’s far from over, Katada declared.
Scientists’ predictions have frequently been shown to be incorrect, as demonstrated by the 2016 earthquake in southwest Kumamoto, a region that was previously thought to be relatively earthquake-free. Katada said, “The only true projection that is possible is that you cannot make projections.”
It’s highly risky to place too much faith in science’s abilities. We are interacting with the natural world.
Aerial imagery from Japanese media outlets revealed extensive devastation in the most affected areas, including highways being submerged by landslides, boats being thrown into the sea, and a massive fire that completely destroyed a portion of Wajima city.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Tuesday that 1,000 soldiers from Japan’s military had been sent to the disaster areas to assist with rescue operations.
He declared, “We are fighting a battle against time and saving lives is our priority.” “It is imperative that those who are stuck in their homes receive immediate rescue.”
While he was speaking, an earthquake with an initial magnitude of 5.6 rocked the Ishikawa region. during 100 aftershocks were recorded during the course of the previous day as further earthquakes shook the region.
Several nuclear plants in the area were reportedly running normally, according to nuclear regulators. At a nuclear plant in northeastern Japan, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused three reactors to melt and emit a significant amount of radiation.
Rows of toppled houses could be seen on news videos. Cars were flipped over and some wooden structures were crushed. Muddy coastlines were left behind by tsunami waves, leaving half-sunken ships floating in harbors.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the northern island of Hokkaido and the remainder of the western coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu, on Monday in addition to a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa.
A few hours later, the warning was lowered, and as of early Tuesday, there were no longer any tsunami advisories in effect. In certain locations, waves up to one meter (3 feet) in height occur.
People gathered in community centers, auditoriums, and schools after being forced from their homes. Although bullet trains in the area were suspended, by Tuesday afternoon most of them were back in operation. Road segments were blocked.
Rain was forecasted by weather forecasters, which increased concerns about the infrastructure and structures that were already collapsing.
The area is home to both officially recognized cultural heritage sites and tourist destinations well-known for its lacquerware and other traditional crafts.
In a statement, US President Joe Biden stated that his government was “prepared to provide any necessary assistance for the Japanese people.”
Because of its location along the Pacific Rim, an arc of fault lines and volcanoes, Japan experiences earthquakes frequently.