A powerful earthquake measuring over seven on the Richter scale hit central Japan, triggering massive waves amid a tsunami warning
Tsunami waves hit Japan coast after a series of powerful earthquakes, including one of magnitude 7.6, struck Ishikawa Prefecture in the country's central part on Monday. Japan Meteorological Office that the country has been has been hit by 155 earthquakes since Monday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported earthquakes hitting Japan's Ishikawa and nearby prefectures shortly after 4 pm (local time), one of them measuring a preliminary magnitude of 7.4-7.6. A tsunami alert was issued with people in Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa prefectures of the Japan sea side asked to evacuate immediately.
Japan Meteorological Agency issued a "major" tsunami warning for parts of Ishikawa with waves expected to go as high as five metres, while lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories were sounded for the rest of the western coast of Japan's main island of Honshu. There were no immediate reports on loss of life, however, houses and roads could be seen damaged in several visuals that surfaced on social media.
-India Issues Emergency Helplines Numbers: The Indian embassy in Japan set up an emergency control room and released helpline numbers on Monday for citizens amid earthquake panic in the country. The dedicated helpline numbers are as follows: +81-80-3930-1715 (Mr. Yakub Topno), +81-70-1492-0049 (Mr. Ajay Sethi), +81-80-3214-4734 (Mr. D.N.Barnwal), +81-80-6229-5382 (Mr. S. Bhattacharya), and +81-80-3214-4722 (Mr. Vivek Rathee). Additionally, individuals can reach out via email at sscons.tokyo@mea.gov.in or offfseco.tokyo@mea.gov.in
-Telecom Initiatives: In the aftermath of a significant earthquake striking central Japan, major telecom carriers in the country started a service allowing users to register and verify the safety status of individuals, enhancing communication and support efforts during this challenging time.
-Major Aftershock Possible: Japan's meteorological agency issued a warning, asking people to be vigilant about possible earthquakes with seismic intensity of seven for about a week, especially over the next two-three days.
Addressing a news conference, Japan Meteorological Agency official Shimoyama Toshihiro said tsunami waves will hit repeatedly, asking people to stay in safe areas until the warnings are lifted. He said that areas hit by strong tremors are running an increasing risk of landslides and house-collapse.
Local media, meanwhile, said that Hokuriku Shinkansen service has been suspended and it is not known when the service will resume.
-Tsunami Waves Observed in These Areas So Far: As per Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV, city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in central Japan, has observed tsunami of more than 1.2 meters at 4:21 pm.
The city of Toyama, in the neighboring Toyama Prefecture, also reported tsunami of 80 centimeters at 4:35 pm.
Kashiwazaki city in Niigata Prefecture has also observed tsunami of 40 centimeters at 4:36 pm.
Tsunami waves are expected to keep hitting the coast and may become higher, the report said.
33,500 Households Without Power: Around 33,500 households are said to be without power around the epicentre of the series of massive earthquakes in central Japan, news agency AFP quoted local utilities as saying. The areas affected were the Toyama, Ishikawa and Niigata prefectures on the Sea of Japan side of Japan's main island of Honshu.
Several major highways are also reportedly closed around the epicentre of a series of major earthquakes in central Japan.
-First Tsunami Wave Hits Wajima: While in Noto area of Ishikawa Prefecture, a "major tsunami warning" was issued with waves estimated to go as high as give metres, the first tsunami wave is said to have hit Noto's Nanao port and Wajima port, where tides up to 1.2 metres were observed at around 4:21 pm, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV. In Suzu city of Noto also tsunami waves are
Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV warned waves could reach as high as 5 metres (16.5 feet) and urged people to move to high land or top of nearby buildings as quickly as possible.
-Scary Visuals of Japan Earthquale Surface: Multiple posts on microblogging site X surfaced within minutes of the powerful earthquake hitting Japan.
"Tsunami warnings are in place for all prefectures with coasts facing the Sea of Japan. Japanese TV urging people to run immediately to higher ground! This is serious. 5m waves expected in Ishikawa. #japan #earthquake," the post by Greg R. Hill
read.
Another post from the same account showed rough waves travelling up waterways in Ishikawa. "Tsunami waves already travelling up waterways in Ishikawa prefecture, with others expected to follow soon. Please evacuate now! #japan #earthquake" the post read.
A video posted by a news portal, BNO, showed people taking shelter under tables at what looked like a bowling arena, with screams and sound of things falling in the background.
-Russia, North Korea on Alert: Warnings of waves up to a metre (3 feet) high were also issued for parts of North Korea and Russia, with officials in the latter issuing a tsunami alert for the island of Sakhalin, warning that areas across the island's west coast could be affected by the waves.
In nearby South Korea, the weather agency urged residents in some eastern coastal towns to watch for possible changes in sea levels. Tsunami waves that hit later later can be bigger than the initial ones.
The Japanese government has set up a special emergency centre to gather information on the quakes and tsunami and relay them speedily to residents to ensure safety, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.
He reiterated the warning for immediate evacuation in affected areas.
Reports of Damage Coming in: While visuals of damaged houses, cracked roads and toppled electric poles have surfaced on the internet. The government is expected to hold a news conference later in the day.
Apart from Noto, Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV said a tsunami of about 3 metres high was expected to hit Niigata and other prefectures on the western coast of Japan. Smaller tsunami waves were already confirmed to have reached the coastline, according to NHK.
Japan is an extremely earthquake-prone nation. In March 2011, the north-eastern coast of Japan was struck by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in the country. It triggered a tsunami up to 30 metres high that washed up to 5 kilometres inland, leaving over 19,000 people dead.
-No Abnormalities in Nuke Plant, Says Japan: The Japanese government said no abnormalities have been reported so far at Shika nuclear power plant after a series of major earthquakes rocked central Japan on Monday, the government said.
"It has been confirmed that there are no abnormalities at Shika nuclear power plant (in Ishikawa) and other stations as of now," government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said.