Strong earthquake strikes western Japan
Tsunami and aftershock threats remain on coast
At least four people died following a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in Japan’s Honshu Island on New Year’s Day, with authorities warning of continuing tsunami risk as dozens of significant aftershocks shook the area.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred at approximately 4 p.m. local time about six miles below the surface. Local officials said it severed power, collapsed buildings, destroyed roads and halted train service.
Authorities set up emergency shelters for people who evacuated their homes and warned against immediately returning. People returning to get their wallets and other belongings have been known to be swept away and drowned even hours after the initial evacuation warning.
Authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture reported that at least four people were killed and two others injured, news outlets including CNN and The Wall Street Journal reported. And the operator of bullet-train service said four trains halted for 11 hours mid-journey, stranding about 1,400 passengers, were aided and beginning to travel to stations, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV.
At least six homes were damaged by the quakes, with people trapped inside, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said. A fire broke out in Wajima city, Ishikawa Prefecture, and electricity was out for more than 30,000 households, he said.
Japan’s military was taking part in the rescue efforts, Hayashi said.
Takashi Wakabayashi, a worker at a convenience store in Ishikawa Prefecture, said some items had tumbled from the shelves, but the biggest problem was the huge crowd of people who had shown up to stock up on bottled water, rice balls and bread following the quake.
“We have customers at three times the level of usual,” he said.
Japanese media footage showed people running through the streets, and red smoke spewing from a fire in a residential neighborhood. Photos showed a crowd of people, including a woman with a baby on her back, standing by huge cracks that had ripped through the pavement.
Some people sustained minor injuries when they tripped and fell while fleeing, or objects fell off shelves and hit them, according to NHK.
The Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of the island of Honshu, as well as the northernmost of its main islands, Hokkaido, but then downgraded it to a regular tsunami warning several hours later, meaning waves still reach up to 10 feet.
President Joe Biden said his administration stands ready to assist Japan, citing the longtime friendship between the two countries.
“Jill and I are praying for the people of Japan who have been impacted by the terrible earthquake,” Biden said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the Japanese people during this difficult time.”
NHK initially warned torrents of water could reach as high as 16.5 feet.
Tsunami warnings were also issued for parts of North Korea and Russia.
The Japanese government set up a special emergency center to gather information on the quakes and tsunami and relay them speedily to residents to ensure safety, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.
Japan is an extremely quake-prone nation. In March 2011, a major quake and tsunami caused meltdowns at a nuclear plant. The latest warning was the first time since the 2011 disaster that a tsunami warning of this magnitude was issued.
A government spokesman told reporters that nuclear plants in the affected area had not reported any irregularities on Monday. Nuclear regulators said no rises in radiation levels were detected at the monitoring posts in the region.
The Meteorological Agency said in a nationally broadcast news conference that more major quakes could hit the area over the next week, especially in the next two or three days.
“We have customers at three times the level of usual.” Takashi Wakabayashi
Convenience store worker in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, on crowds after the quake