In a significant event, a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck the north-central region of Japan on a Monday afternoon. Following the seismic activity, the Japan Meteorological Agency promptly issued a tsunami warning for the coastal areas of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures.
The earthquake caused damage to various structures, including a torii gate at a shrine in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported multiple quakes in Ishikawa and nearby prefectures, one of them registering a preliminary magnitude of 7.4. NHK reported waves exceeding 1 meter in height hitting the coast of Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture.
NHK TV issued a warning about the potential for torrents of water to reach heights of up to 5 meters (16.5 feet) and urged residents to seek higher ground or the top of nearby buildings as swiftly as possible. As of now, there are no immediate reports of casualties or losses.
This earthquake event serves as a haunting reminder of Japan’s history with devastating earthquakes, including the catastrophic 9.0-magnitude undersea quake that struck northeastern Japan in March 2011, triggering a tsunami that resulted in approximately 18,500 casualties.
In March 2022, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Fukushima claimed three lives and shook large parts of eastern Japan. Japan’s capital, Tokyo, also endured a massive earthquake a century ago in 1923.