As the world celebrates the New Year 2024, Japan faces upheaval with a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable force. A formidable earthquake, wreaked havoc—demolishing houses, tearing up roads, and prompting tsunami alerts for coastal regions. A significant tsunami warning was issued for the Nato area, cautioning of waves potentially reaching five meters.
This warning, the first in Japan since the catastrophic 2011 earthquake, was later downgraded. Similar alerts were extended to neighboring Niigata and Toyama prefectures.
Subsequent to the initial warning, tsunami waves did make landfall on the coast in Ishikawa prefecture, albeit not as high as authorities had initially anticipated.
Over the past few hours, Japan experienced approximately 60 earthquakes, culminating in the 7.5 magnitude quake striking the Noto region in North Central Japan.
Authorities are cautioning of the possibility of additional quakes in the next two to three days.
Though the “major tsunami warning” has been revised to a “tsunami warning,” residents are still urged to remain evacuated from coastal areas.
Beyond Japan, tsunami warnings have been issued for select areas in Russia, as well as North and South Korea.
This seismic event, coupled with subsequent tsunami alerts, rekindles memories of the devastating 2011 incident when tsunami waves, towering up to 15 meters, battered Japan’s northeastern coast, claiming around 18,000 lives.
Local media reports suggest individuals may be trapped within the debris of collapsed structures, and a massive fire has been reported in the Ishikawa area post-earthquake.
Videos circulated on social media by locals depict torn-up road surfaces and parking lots. Electric poles have been uprooted at various locations, leaving over 32,000 homes in Ishikawa prefecture without power.
this horrible moment 😢#Tsunami #地震 #緊急地震速報 #津波の映像 #避難 #最大震度7 #earthquake #japanearthquake #Japan
pic.twitter.com/ZDU5ZI71lL— Sunil Choudhary (@sunildhojak) January 1, 2024
#TsunamiALERT 🚨 Tsunami waves hit Japan after major earthquake and a parking video where cars are shaking. Horrific videos in the beginning of the new year.#Japan #Tsunami #Earthquake #earthquake #輪島 #地震 #earthquake #deprem #sismo #地震 #earthquake #tsunami #2024NewYear pic.twitter.com/hvgkeL8RRZ
— Anand Ashutosh (@ashutosh0211) January 1, 2024
The Indian Embassy in Japan has swiftly established an emergency room for communication related to the earthquake and tsunami warnings. It has disseminated emergency contact numbers for Indian citizens in the wake of this seismic event.
“The Embassy has set up an emergency control room for anyone to contact in connection with the earthquake and tsunami on January 1, 2024. The following emergency numbers and email IDs may be contacted for any assistance,” conveyed the Indian Embassy in a statement shared on ‘X’.
Embassy has set up an emergency control room for anyone to contact in connection with the Earthquake and Tsunami on January I, 2024. The following Emergency numbers and email IDs may be contacted for any assistance. pic.twitter.com/oMkvbbJKEh
— India in Japanインド大使館 (@IndianEmbTokyo) January 1, 2024