NANAO, Japan – Japan struggled Tuesday to assess the extent of damage caused by an earthquake that struck its west coast, killing at least a dozen people, destroying buildings and major roads, and leaving wide areas without power. of homes in freezing temperatures.
The earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck mid-afternoon on Monday, causing residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground as tsunami waves of about 1 meter (3.3 feet) hit the coast. western Japan.
Thousands of military, firefighters and police from across the country have been sent to the worst-affected area on the relatively remote Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture.
However, rescue efforts have been hampered by badly damaged and blocked roads and one of the area’s airports has been forced to close due to cracks in the runway.
Many rail services, ferries and flights to the area have also been suspended.
“The search and rescue of those affected by the earthquake is a battle against time,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during an emergency meeting on disasters on Tuesday.
Kishida said rescuers were finding it very difficult to reach the northern tip of the Noto Peninsula due to destroyed roads, and that helicopter surveys had uncovered many fires and widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.
A damaged car lies near a collapsed house, following an earthquake, in Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, January 2, 2024. REUTERS An aerial view shows collapsed houses, cars and roads caused by an earthquake in Kanazawa, prefecture from Ishikawa, Japan, January 2, 2024. 2024. via REUTERS
Local media reported that more than a dozen deaths had been confirmed so far, mainly in the hard-hit town of Wajima, near the epicenter of the earthquake, where a massive fire broke out on Monday.
The national police agency said six people had been confirmed dead, and the fire and disaster management agency said 19 people were in cardiac arrest.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, more than 140 tremors have been detected since the first earthquake struck on Monday.
Local residents rest at a primary school acting as an evacuation shelter after an earthquake hit the Kanazawa region of Japan. Via REUTERS
The agency has warned that stronger shaking could occur in the coming days.
Nobuko Sugimori, a 74-year-old resident of Nanao town in Ishikawa, told Reuters she had never experienced such an earthquake before.
“I tried to hold the TV to prevent it from falling, but I couldn’t even stop myself from swinging violently from side to side,” Sugimori said from his home, which had a large crack in the front wall and furniture scattered on the floor. inside.
An aerial view shows a collapsed building caused by an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture. Via REUTERS
Across the street, a car was crushed under a collapsed building where residents came close again.
Fujiko Ueno, 73, said nearly 20 people were at home to celebrate the New Year when the earthquake hit, but miraculously they all escaped unharmed.
“It all happened in the blink of an eye,” she said, standing on the street among the rubble of rubble and mud oozing from the cracked road surface. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan on Monday.
President Joe Biden said in a statement that the United States was ready to provide any necessary help to Japan after the earthquake.
“As close allies, the United States and Japan share a deep bond of friendship that unites our people. Our thoughts are with the Japanese people during this difficult time,” she said.
The Japanese government ordered more than 97,000 people to evacuate their homes on Monday night, sending them to sports halls and school gymnasiums, commonly used as evacuation centers in emergencies.
Many returned to their homes on Tuesday when authorities lifted tsunami warnings.
But about 33,000 homes remained without power in Ishikawa Prefecture as of early Tuesday morning, according to Hokuriku Electric Power’s website. Most northern areas of the Noto Peninsula also have no water supply, NHK reported.
The Imperial Household Agency said it would cancel the New Year’s appearance of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako scheduled for Tuesday following the disaster. Kishida postponed his New Year’s visit to Ise Shrine scheduled for Thursday. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan on Monday.
NUCLEAR PLANTS
The earthquake comes at a delicate time for Japan’s nuclear industry, which has faced fierce opposition from some locals since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that triggered nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima. Entire towns were devastated in that disaster.
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority said no irregularities were found at nuclear plants along the Sea of Japan, including five active reactors at Kansai Electric Power’s Ohi and Takahama plants in Fukui prefecture.
Hokuriku Electric’s Shika plant, closest to the epicenter, had already shut down its two reactors before the quake for regular inspections and saw no impact from the quake, the agency said.
Chip materials maker Kokusai Electric said it is investigating further after finding some damage at its factory in Toyama ahead of a planned resumption of operations on Thursday.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn