A powerful earthquake struck central Japan on the first day of the new year, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 individuals. Early on Tuesday, police and prefectural authorities announced the recovery of bodies from underneath the rubble of collapsed buildings, while the government ordered the evacuation of more than 51,000 people across five prefectures.
The quake, which initial reports suggested had a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale, occurred on Monday afternoon. Later, the Japanese agency confirmed approximately 100 aftershocks had been recorded in the region following the earthquake.
The disaster caused buildings to crumble and left tens of thousands of homes without electricity, prompting residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground.
The earthquake also generated waves, nearly a meter high in some areas, along the western coast of Japan and neighboring South Korea.
Rescue Operations
Military personnel were dispatched to assist in rescue operations, and a local airport was shut down after the quake caused cracks in its runway.
Nearly a day after the catastrophe, the full extent of the damage and the death toll remains unclear, as significant destruction to primary roads leading to the hardest-hit areas has hampered rescue efforts.
The Japanese Broadcasting Corporation reported that doctors have been unable to reach a hospital in severely damaged Suzu town, adding that the hospital is relying on a backup power generator due to the power outage.
Officials in Wajima city of Ishikawa prefecture reported a fire in the city center which damaged more than 50 shops and homes.
Japan frequently experiences earthquakes because it is located in the "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Ocean, a zone of high seismic activity. The zone extends from Southeast Asia to the Pacific basin. Authorities in the archipelago enforce strict building standards to ensure that structures are generally resistant to strong earthquakes, and residents are accustomed to regularly preparing for such events.
