7.6-Magnitude quake triggers tsunami warnings, buildings collapse, evacuation centers activated.
A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Japan, leading to widespread damage and triggering tsunami warnings. Thousands of people have evacuated to emergency centers, with at least two feared dead and concerns of further casualties. The quake, occurring at 16:10 local time, caused dozens of buildings to collapse in several towns, trapping an unknown number of people under the rubble.
Tsunami warnings were initially issued and later downgraded, with about 60 aftershocks recorded following the main quake. The affected coastal areas experienced major damage to infrastructure, including collapsed houses and power poles. Highways near the epicenter were closed, and over 36,000 households were left without power. A major landslide ripped apart several hundred meters of the main expressway between Toyama and Kanazawa.
Initial tsunami warnings for the Noto area were downgraded, and authorities reported waves reaching only about a meter in height. Japan’s advanced tsunami warning system, developed due to the nation’s high seismic activity, played a crucial role in mitigating the potential impact. While several nuclear power plants are in the affected areas, Japan’s nuclear authority assured that there is no risk of radioactivity leaking.
Japan, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to frequent earthquakes, and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami resulted in significant casualties and a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima power plant. South Korea’s meteorological agency and Russia also issued tsunami warnings after the recent earthquake. The full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed, and evacuation centers remain active as residents cope with the aftermath.