Race Against Time to Locate Quake Survivors as Japan Removes Tsunami Alerts and Death Toll Climbs
Devastation grips Japan's western coast as rescuers scramble to save survivors trapped in the aftermath of a powerful 75 magnitude quake Tsunami warnings lifted, but the looming threat of aftershocks persists
The western coast of Japan was left devastated on Tuesday as rescuers hurried to save residents trapped in the rubble following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks in central Japan. The disaster resulted in at least 30 deaths as the quake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture on Monday afternoon, causing buildings to collapse, igniting fires, and prompting tsunami alerts as far as eastern Russia.
The tsunami advisories in parts of Japan's western coast were lifted by the Meteorological Agency on Tuesday. However, access to the northern part of the isolated Noto Peninsula has been limited almost 24 hours after the earthquake. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mentioned in a press conference after a disaster emergency meeting on Tuesday that a damaged road has blocked access to the area.
The peninsula, famed for its coastal beauty and countryside, was surveyed by officials in helicopters who observed destroyed roads, landslides, and expansive fires. "In order to ensure access, we plan to utilize all modes of transportation, including aerial and marine transport. Since last night, we have been working tirelessly to transport supplies, goods, and personnel to the area," remarked Kishida.
Wajima, the central city with a population of over 27,000, was one of the hardest hit areas. Officials confirmed that 15 people had died in the devastation. Known for its morning market and traditional lacquerware, the coastal city was now seen with smoldering fires and thick plumes of smoke engulfing the streets lined with destroyed buildings during initial aerial assessments on Tuesday.
Damaged buildings are seen after multiple strong earthquakes hit the area previous day on January 2, 2024 in Anamizu, Ishikawa, Japan.
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More than 100 shops and houses had burned down in Wajima Monday evening after a fire broke out following the quake, Japans public broadcaster NHK reported.
The city experienced tsunami waves measuring approximately 1.2 meters (3.9 feet), as reported by NHK. Although the full extent of damage from the recent earthquake is still being assessed, it is not as severe as the devastation caused by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in 2011. This earlier quake triggered a tsunami that led to a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima power plant, resulting in a long-lasting disaster.
Overnight rescue efforts
Prime Minister Kishida said Tuesday members of Japans Self Defense Force had joined police and fire emergency teams in rescuing people from devastated areas overnight.
"The rescue efforts are a race against time, especially for the victims trapped in collapsed buildings," he explained. The Japanese fire department responded to reports of individuals trapped under damaged buildings on Monday, as per NHK.
An elderly man who had been pulled from a house that collapsed in the quake was later confirmed to have died, according to NHK, citing police in Ishikawa.
Firefighters extinguish a fire in Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, early on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
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Health officials in Suzu city reported that certain medical professionals were unable to attend to injured patients due to the impassable roads. Additionally, Hokuriku Electric Power disclosed that 45,700 households in Ishikawa were still without electricity as of Tuesday.
After the earthquake, Kansai Electric and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed that no abnormalities were found at the nuclear plants near the affected areas. Additionally, Japan Railways West reported that four bullet trains, which had been stopped during the quake, resumed service on Tuesday morning after nearly 1,400 passengers were trapped inside for about 11 hours.
The high-speed trains had been stranded between the central Japanese cities of Toyama and Kanazawa following the 7.5 magnitude tremor.
Cars are stranded in the cracks as the road has been damaged by multiple strong earthquakes on January 2, 2024 in Noto, Ishikawa, Japan.
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Tsunami warnings lifted but threat of aftershocks remain
The strong earthquake on Monday led the Japan Meteorological Agency to swiftly issue a "major tsunami warning" for Noto - the first since the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 2011 - but later revised it to a "tsunami warning."
The tsunami warnings were lifted when the possibility of more tsunami waves decreased.
In Japan's tsunami warning system, waves anticipated to be less than 1 meter are categorized as "tsunami advisory," while waves anticipated to be up to 3 meters are categorized as "tsunami warning," and waves expected to be over 5 meters fall under the "major tsunami warning" category.
The first waves were reported hitting the coast just over 10 minutes after the quake.
Video shows a wave crashing over a protective sea wall in the western city of Suzu Monday.
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The US Geological Survey reported at least 35 smaller aftershocks near the epicenter of the quake. Susan Hough, a seismologist with the US Geological Survey, cautioned that the aftershocks may continue for months.
Residents in that area have experienced earthquakes in the past, but according to Hough, this is the largest one yet. She believes that most residents likely have never experienced an earthquake of this magnitude. Hough also warned that aftershocks are to be expected, and some could be larger than a magnitude 6, presenting its own hazard.
