On January 2, the Japan Meteorological Agency lifted all tsunami warnings issued after a series of strong earthquakes shook the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture and coastal areas in central Japan during the day. first of the New Year. However, the agency still forecasts that minor fluctuations in tide levels may continue during the day.
At present, high-speed train service has been resumed in some locations, after being forced to temporarily stop due to the impact of the earthquake. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said some nuclear plants in central Japan are still operating normally.
Statistics show that Japan has suffered 155 earthquakes of different levels, of which the majority were determined to be aftershocks of the first earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6. The Japan Meteorological Agency has officially named the series of earthquakes of this magnitude the “2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake”.
According to the Ishikawa prefectural government, the earthquakes caused many tsunami waves from 1-1.2 m high in Wajima city in this province. As of 9:30 a.m. January 2 (Vietnam time), authorities in this province confirmed that 13 people were killed and dozens injured, while many buildings, cars and boats were destroyed or damaged. serious. Fires also destroyed more than 200 structures in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Speaking at a press conference on the morning of January 2, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed “the level of damage is very large, with many casualties, many houses collapsed and burned”. He said the government has dispatched an additional 1,000 soldiers to support the defense force of 8,500 people present in the affected areas to assist in rescuing people in distress and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters. “Saving lives is our top priority and we are racing against time,” he emphasized.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the epicenter of the initial earthquake was about 30 km east-northeast of Wajima, with a depth of about 16 km. Accordingly, this earthquake was determined to be at the highest level on Japan’s 7-level seismic intensity scale. The last time Japan witnessed such a strong earthquake was at the end of 2018 in Hokkaido.
Sharing the damage caused by a new series of earthquakes in Japan, US President Joe Biden announced that the country is ready to provide all necessary support to the close ally. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his condolences to the Japanese Government and people.