At least 30 people have reportedly died since the magnitude 7.6 quake struck the West Coast on New Year's Day.
At least 30 people were reported dead after a powerful earthquake struck the coast of central Japan on New Year's Day. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned that the damage was “widespread” and the number of victims was likely to increase.
The magnitude 7.6 quake struck near the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on Monday afternoon, triggering the country's first major tsunami warning since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that killed about 18,500 people in the northeast were declared dead or missing.
On Tuesday, Kishida said “significant damage” had been confirmed as the quake collapsed buildings and sparked fires.
There were “numerous” victims, he said, adding that it was a “race against time” to rescue the victims.
Authorities said rescue efforts were hampered by damaged roads and it was difficult to assess the full extent of the rainfall.
However, the original tsunami warning, which was later downgraded, was lifted on Tuesday morning.
In Suzu, a coastal town of just over 5,000 households near the quake's epicenter, up to 1,000 homes may have been destroyed, according to mayor Masuhiro Izumiya.
“The situation is catastrophic,” he said.
After the earthquake, a large fire burned near the port of Wajima, which was eventually extinguished [Jiji Press via AFP]Across Ishikawa Prefecture, authorities have confirmed 30 deaths so far, half of them in Wajima, another hard-hit town on the peninsula's remote northern tip.
Official updates on the toll were rare.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the country had been hit by 155 earthquakes since the first quake on Monday.
“Violent swaying”
Wajima was hit by a tsunami at least 1.2 meters (4 feet) high and aerial footage showed the devastation caused by a major fire as a seven-story building collapsed in the port.
The fire engulfed a number of houses. People were evacuated in the dark, some with blankets, others with babies.
Nobuko Sugimori, a 74-year-old resident of Nanao town in Ishikawa, said she had never experienced such a quake before.
“I tried to hold the TV so it wouldn't tip over, but I couldn't even stop myself from swaying violently from side to side,” Sugimori told Portal from her home, whose front wall had a large crack in it Interior scattered furniture.
Across the street, 73-year-old Fujiko Ueno was counting her blessings.
She said nearly 20 people were at her home for a New Year's celebration when the quake struck, but no one was injured.
“It all happened in the blink of an eye,” she said, standing on the street among the rubble of the debris and the mud seeping from the cracked road.
Nearly 100,000 people in nine prefectures were evacuated and spent the night in sports halls and school gymnasiums, which are often used as emergency evacuation centers in Japan.
According to Hokuriku Electric Power's website, nearly 33,000 households remained without power in Ishikawa Prefecture early Tuesday morning. NHK said most areas in the northern Noto Peninsula were also without water.
Due to the disaster, the Imperial Household Agency canceled the New Year's appearance of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, which was scheduled for Tuesday.
Houses collapsed in the city of Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture [Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters]Japan's closest allies expressed condolences over the disaster and said they were ready to offer help.
“As close allies, the United States and Japan share a deep friendship that unites our people. “Our thoughts are with the Japanese people at this difficult time,” U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “solidarity,” while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences and support.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was monitoring developments.
“My thoughts are with everyone affected by the earthquakes in Japan, which have caused such terrible damage,” he said.