Several Fatalities reported in 7.6 Japan Earthquake due to ongoing tremors persist in the western part of the country

On Monday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck Japan in the vicinity of the Noto Peninsula within the Ishikawa prefecture. This 7.6 Japan Earthquake led to the issuance of tsunami warnings for nine prefectures along the western coast of Japan and nearby regions such as South Korea. Additional seismic activity is anticipated throughout the remainder of this week.

Japan is highly susceptible to earthquakes due to the convergence of four tectonic plates within the country. In 2011, Japan faced a catastrophic earthquake resulting in a death toll of nearly 20,000 individuals, primarily caused by tsunami waves. Additionally, the incident led to meltdowns at nuclear plants in Fukushima, contributing to an estimated $220 billion worth of damage.

Location and Time of Japan Earthquake

The exact locations and timings are as follows:

• Seismic activity commenced around 4 pm local time (07:00 GMT) on Monday, marked by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake near Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture, specifically the Noto Peninsula. Japan, consisting of 47 administrative divisions known as prefectures, experienced tremors categorized as “major” when measuring between 7.0 to 7.9, indicative of their potential to cause significant damage. To put this in context, the largest earthquake ever recorded registered at magnitude 9.6 in Chile in 1960.
• The Japan earthquake resulted in ocean waves approximately 1 meter (3 feet) high along Japan’s western coast and on the shores of neighboring South Korea. Remarkably, the tremors reached Japan’s capital, Tokyo, situated 300 km (186 miles) away on the opposite side of the country.
• In response to the seismic activity, nearly 100,000 individuals across nine prefectures were evacuated. They sought refuge for the night in sports halls and school gymnasiums, commonly designated as emergency evacuation centers in Japan. These facilities often include a “disaster storehouse” equipped with essential supplies, such as food, to sustain individuals for a designated period during emergencies.
• The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued tsunami warnings of varying severity, including low-level warnings for Niigata and Toyama prefectures and a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa, which was later lifted on Tuesday morning.
• Within two hours of the significant japan earthquake near the Noto Peninsula, NHK TV, the Japanese public broadcaster, urgently advised the public to move to higher ground or reach the tops of nearby buildings promptly. The concern was that potential floodwaters could surge to heights of up to 5 meters (16.4 feet) if a tsunami occurred.
• Approximately 10 minutes after the magnitude 7.6 earthquake, a tsunami wave measuring around 1.2 meters (4 feet) struck Wajima city in Ishikawa. Concurrently, a fire ignited by the collapse of buildings engulfed houses in the area. Residents, grappling with power outages, were compelled to evacuate in darkness. Some individuals were observed carrying essentials like blankets, while others hurriedly left, holding infants.
• On Tuesday, the JMA reported a total of 155 earthquakes in the country since the initial tremor on Monday.

Why this region is more susceptible to Earthquakes?

Japan stands as one of the nations most vulnerable to seismic activity, with ongoing tremors in the region. Between December 2020 and the previous month, the area experienced 506 earthquakes with a magnitude of at least 1.0. Experts assert that understanding why this recent sequence of more significant earthquakes wasn’t anticipated requires further research.

Ishikawa, renowned for its cultural heritage sites and a popular tourist destination, is situated near the tectonic plate boundary between the Earth’s Eurasian and North American plates. Regions positioned along such boundaries are particularly prone to earthquakes due to the dynamic interaction and movement of these plates, resulting in more intense seismic shocks in nearby areas.

The japan earthquake on Monday represents the most potent seismic event in Ishikawa since 1885, the earliest year for which data is available.

This event also marks Japan’s first major tsunami warning since March 2011, when a magnitude 9.0 earthquake in the Tohoku region claimed over 18,000 lives and triggered nuclear plant meltdowns in Fukushima.

The destruction caused by 7.6 Japan Earthquake

The Japanese authorities are currently evaluating the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake. Thus far, the seismic activity has led to multiple fatalities, building collapses, fires in Wajima, and power outages throughout Ishikawa.

As of early Tuesday morning in Japan, nearly 33,000 households in Ishikawa prefecture remained without power, as reported on Hokuriku Electric Power’s website. NHK, the broadcaster, indicated that most areas in the northern Noto Peninsula were also facing water shortages.

Due to the earthquake, several highways near the epicenter were shut down, and both flights and bullet train services to the region were temporarily halted.

In Suzu, a coastal town with just over 5,000 households near the earthquake’s epicenter, Mayor Masuhiro Izumiya expressed concerns that as many as 1,000 houses may have been destroyed.

Count of Fatalities caused by Japan Earthquake

A minimum of 67 individuals have lost their lives in Ishikawa, and search and rescue teams are actively working to access regions where there are concerns that individuals may be trapped beneath buildings that have collapsed. Additionally, at least 14 people are in critical condition.

The government has identified a minimum of six to ten individuals trapped inside buildings, and the total number might surpass that range. It’s important to note that the government typically takes a conservative approach in reporting these figures until their official final count.

Rescue Operation of Victims of Japan Earthquake

With alerts indicating the likelihood of additional earthquakes, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida cautioned late on Monday that the ongoing efforts to rescue individuals trapped beneath collapsed structures would be a urgent race against time.

After the earthquake, Japan’s Kansai Electric and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed that no irregularities were detected at nuclear plants in the vicinity of the affected areas.

Following the quake that halted their high-speed journeys, four bullet trains, trapping almost 1,400 passengers for approximately 11 hours, resumed services on Tuesday morning. NHK, citing Japan Railways West, reported the resumption of these high-speed train services, which had been stranded between the central cities of Toyama and Kanazawa after the 7.5 magnitude tremor.

Numerous army personnel, firefighters, and police officers from various regions of the country have been mobilized to the most severely affected areas of the Noto Peninsula in the Ishikawa prefecture.

In Suzu city, health officials reported that certain doctors faced challenges treating injured patients as damaged roads impeded their ability to commute to work. Simultaneously, on Tuesday, 45,700 households in Ishikawa were still without power, as reported by the power company Hokuriku Electric Power.

As of now, rescue teams face challenges in reaching the northern tip of the peninsula due to the compromised condition of the roads. Helicopter surveys have revealed a substantial number of fires and extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.

The Neighboring Countries at potential risks

Tsunami warnings have also been issued by Russia, North and South Korea, and the nearby Sakhalin island.

Russia has issued tsunami alerts for its far eastern cities, Vladivostok and Nakhodka. In Vladivostok, local authorities have instructed fishermen to promptly return to shore.

South Korea’s east coast in Mukho, Gangwon province, experienced a tsunami wave measuring 0.67 meters (2.2 feet) on Monday night, according to the country’s meteorological agency. Authorities in Gangwon and Samcheok city have advised residents to evacuate to higher ground.

North Korea has issued warnings of potential tsunami waves reaching up to 2.08 meters (6.8 feet) for its east coast.

Furthermore, an emergency services alert on Sakhalin island, situated near Japan, has indicated that its western coast “may be affected by tsunami waves.

Aftershocks – Japan Earthquake

The robust earthquake on Monday led the Japan Meteorological Agency to promptly issue a “major tsunami warning,” the first since the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in 2011, specifically for Noto. However, it was later deescalated to a “tsunami warning.” Subsequently, the tsunami warnings were rescinded as the potential for additional tsunami waves diminished.

In Japan’s tsunami warning system, waves anticipated to be less than 1 meter are categorized as a “tsunami advisory,” those expected to reach up to 3 meters fall under “tsunami warning,” and waves predicted to exceed 5 meters are labeled as a “major tsunami warning.”

The initial waves were observed hitting the coast slightly over 10 minutes after the earthquake.

Video footage depicts a wave breaking over a protective sea wall in the western city of Suzu on Monday.

As per the United States Geological Survey, around 35 smaller aftershocks were recorded near the quake’s epicenter. Susan Hough, a seismologist from the US Geological Survey, cautioned that these aftershocks might persist for months. Hough noted that while residents in that region have experienced earthquakes before, this is significantly larger, potentially surpassing their previous seismic encounters. She emphasized the likelihood of ongoing aftershocks, some potentially exceeding a magnitude of 6, posing an additional hazard in the aftermath of the main quake.

Forecast of Future Earthquakes

JMA has cautioned that the region may experience additional earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 7.0 in the coming week, particularly within the next two to three days. There is an increased risk of fires and landslides, prompting officials to advise residents in certain areas to avoid returning home due to potential dangers.

While the warning of a major tsunami for Ishikawa was downgraded to an advisory alert and subsequently lifted on Tuesday morning, the threat has diminished. A tsunami “advisory” suggests that significant flooding is not anticipated, but local authorities may take precautionary measures such as closing beaches or evacuating harbors.

On Monday night, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii stated, “The tsunami threat has now largely passed.”

What are the Natural Causes of Earthquakes?

Earthquakes stem from the sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust. Tectonic activity, primarily driven by the movement of Earth’s plates, is a major cause. There are three main plate boundaries where earthquakes occur: divergent (plates move apart), convergent (plates move toward each other), and transform (plates slide past each other). Other causes include volcanic activity and human-induced factors like mining and reservoir-induced seismicity. Understanding these causes is vital for assessing seismic risks and implementing mitigation measures.