Destruction unleashed as earthquakes hit central japan, leaving multiple dead, fires raging, and landslides feared
Embed from Getty ImagesJapan is on high alert as a relentless series of major earthquakes have pummeled the nation, resulting in a cascade of tsunami alerts across multiple countries. The aftermath of over 80 quakes has left at least one dead, buildings collapsed, and emergency services grappling to contain fires and the looming threat of landslides.
The seismic onslaught, culminating in a 7.6 magnitude quake, struck Japan’s main island of Honshu on New Year’s Day, triggering successive tsunami waves and urgent evacuations. Initial warnings indicated the possibility of waves reaching 16ft, though subsequent updates have downsized the threat to around 9.3ft. Parts of Japan’s west coast have already witnessed 3ft waves.
The worst-hit regions of Toyama, Ishikawa, and Niigata are now grappling with the aftermath, with over 30 houses collapsing near the quake’s epicenter, resulting in at least one fatality and fears of more casualties.
Emergency services are on high alert, battling a major fire in the residential area of Wajima, Ishikawa, close to the quake’s epicenter. Evacuations are underway, with residents fleeing the engulfed row of houses, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The impact of the earthquakes extends beyond Japan, with North Korea, South Korea, and Russia’s Far East issuing tsunami warnings to their local populations. Severe aftershocks are anticipated in the coming hours and days, heightening concerns of additional casualties and infrastructure damage.
Japan’s meteorological agency has issued a “very high risk” warning of further building collapses, urging residents not to stray from safe areas. The government has deployed the army for rescue efforts, with at least six people feared buried under rubble.
As Japan grapples with this seismic crisis, the international community watches anxiously, recalling the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that claimed nearly 20,000 lives and triggered a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant
