A 7.6-magnitude earthquake occurred on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan on the afternoon of January 1, according to Xinhua News Agency, citing the Japan Broadcasting Association, as of 9 o'clock local time on the 2nd, eight people have died in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
According to the real-time updated data on the earthquake monitoring website of the Japan Meteorological Agency, since the 7.6 magnitude earthquake occurred on the afternoon of the 1st, as of 1 o'clock local time on January 2, 93 aftershocks with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher have been monitored throughout Japan.
On the afternoon of January 1, 2024 local time, an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7 (Japanese standard) occurred in the Noto area of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, causing some buildings in Wajima City to be damaged and collapsed, and the road surface of some sections of the road was broken. Photo/Chinanews.com
There may be another earthquake with a seismic intensity of about 7 in Japan
According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, on the afternoon of the 1st local time, an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7 (Japanese standard) occurred in the Noto area of Ishikawa Prefecture, and the epicenter was in the Noto area of the prefecture, and the depth of the epicenter was extremely shallow.
Statistics show that between 16:06 and 17:22 local time on the 1st, at least 15 earthquakes occurred near the Noto area of Ishikawa Prefecture, with earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 or higher, and at least 7 of them were above 5.
At the same time, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a large tsunami warning for the Noto area of the prefecture for a time. Tsunamis were observed in Toyama and Niigata prefectures. A wide area from Hokkaido to Kyushu felt the shaking.
At a press conference on the 1st, the Japan Meteorological Agency also announced that it would name the 2024 "Noto Peninsula Earthquake" for the major earthquake that occurred in the Noto area of Ishikawa Prefecture on the same day. The agency reminded that "areas that are strongly felt in the next week or so, especially in the next two or three days, should be vigilant against earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of about 7".
Japan's Kyodo News Agency noted that the last time an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7 was observed was the 2018 Hokkaido earthquake. This was the first time since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 that a tsunami warning was issued.
On January 1, the highway in Koyabe City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan, was closed due to an earthquake, and a sign told you to exit the expressway. Photo/Xinhua News Agency
8 people died
Tens of thousands of families were affected
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed relevant government departments to work with local governments to unite and respond to the disaster. Kishida said, "We will continue to pay attention to the evacuation of residents in a race against time where a tsunami is expected." ”
As of now, houses have collapsed, the ground has subsided, and items have been scattered inside buildings in many parts of Japan. The local fire department of Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, said that a large-scale fire broke out in the city after the earthquake.
A damaged house photographed on January 1 in Kawai Town, Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Photo/Xinhua News Agency
The earthquake also caused power outages for tens of thousands of households, and the Tohoku, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen were all suspended, and the Hokuriku Expressway, Tokai Hokuriku Expressway, and Joshinetsu Expressway were closed to traffic.
Meanwhile, the latest data shows that the earthquake has killed eight people in Ishikawa Prefecture. Many people were injured in the earthquake in the affected areas. According to the person in charge of Wajima City Hospital in Ishikawa Prefecture, several people were sent to the hospital for treatment after suffering from broken bones or head injuries caused by falling objects. In addition, Ishikawa Prefecture has also received reports of multiple cases of people being buried under collapsed buildings.
On the afternoon of January 1, 2024 local time, an earthquake with a seismic intensity of 7 (Japanese standard) occurred in the Noto area of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, and multiple tsunami warnings were issued in a short period of time, and local residents evacuated outdoors to take shelter. Photo/Chinanews.com
What is the situation of nuclear power plants in many parts of Japan?
In the aftermath of successive earthquakes, many regions in Japan have confirmed the status of local nuclear power plants.
Japan's Kyodo News Agency quoted the Nuclear Regulation Agency as saying that there were no abnormalities in the nuclear energy facilities in Niigata, Ishikawa, and Fukui prefectures.
According to Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, TEPCO said later that during an inspection of the Kashiwazaki Kariba nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, it was found that water had overflowed from the fuel pools on the top floor of the nuclear reactor plants of several units due to shaking caused by the earthquake.
TEPCO said that at about 6:45 on the 1st, it confirmed the fuel pool of units 1 to 7 and found that the water in the fuel pool of units 2, 3, 6, and 7 overflowed.
On the afternoon of the 1st, a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.6 occurred in the Noto area of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, which spread to many places in Japan and caused a tsunami. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at an emergency press conference that the earthquake caused a fire in the transformer of the Shiga nuclear power plant in Ishikawa Prefecture, which has been extinguished and has not affected the nuclear power plant. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Agency said that many places in Japan are confirming the safety of nuclear facilities.
According to Fuji Shimbun, cooling water from the fuel pool at the Shiga Nuclear Power Plant in Ishikawa Prefecture spilled out of the pool due to an earthquake. In response, Japan's Nuclear Regulation Agency said that the overflow of fuel pool water caused by the earthquake will not affect the cooling of fuel, and no impact on the outside world has been found.
Japan lowers the tsunami warning level
The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded the "tsunami warning" issued in a wide area along the coast of the Sea of Japan to a "tsunami warning" in the early morning of the 2nd, calling on coastal residents to continue to be vigilant.
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake occurred on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan on the afternoon of the 1st, and the Japan Meteorological Agency predicted that the earthquake would trigger a tsunami with a wave height of 5 meters, and quickly issued a "large tsunami warning" for the Noto area, which was the first time that the agency issued a "large tsunami warning" since the "March 11" earthquake in Japan in 2011. Ten minutes after the earthquake, a tsunami with waves over 1.2 meters high was observed at Wajima Port in Ishikawa Prefecture, followed by a tsunami of varying wave heights over a wide area of the Japanese archipelago from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu Island in the south.
People stand on the ground damaged by an earthquake in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, on January 1. Photo/Xinhua News Agency
At 20:30 local time on the 1st, the Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded the "tsunami warning" for the Noto area to a "tsunami warning". At 1:15 a.m. on the 2nd, the Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded the "Tsunami Warning" issued to the Hokuriku region of Japan and the northern areas of Yamagatata, Niigata, and Hyogo prefectures, and the rest of the Sea of Japan coast remained on the "Tsunami Warning". The Japan Meteorological Agency also called on residents in areas where "tsunami warnings" were issued to stay away from coasts and river estuaries.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issues a warning based on the size and location of the earthquake and issues a warning based on the size of the tsunami and provides a "tsunami warning", "tsunami warning", and "tsunami warning", with a "tsunami warning" issued when the maximum wave height is predicted to exceed 3 meters.
On January 1, at Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, Japan, the train operation timetable showed that the train was delayed due to the earthquake. Photo/Xinhua News Agency
Chinese in Japan:
The car is desperately running in the opposite direction to the sea
On January 1, local time, an earthquake struck the Noto region of Japan. While the Japanese Chinese Xu Xilan and his family were on their way to Kanazawa, they witnessed the earthquake firsthand. Mr. Xu said in an interview that when the earthquake struck, about five of his family's seven people had their mobile phones ringing earthquake sirens while they saw power poles shaking.
"We were going to see the Sea of Japan, so we drove to a beach in the Sea of Japan," Mr. Xu said. About 5 of the 7 of us had their phones ringing, and everyone said it was an earthquake. I just stopped the car and the earthquake sirens sounded on my phone. Then we were ready to stay away from the beach, because we received information that there might be a tsunami, and the wave height could be up to 5 meters, so we drove desperately in the opposite direction of the sea. ”
Mr. Koh said that at present, they have been given information that the Shinkansen has been suspended and the highway has been closed. For the sake of safety, they decided to take a look at the situation before deciding on the next step in their trip. "If we're driving back, we'll have to go through Nagano if we take the normal road," he says. As we were walking through Nagano, we felt that dangerous accidents such as rockfalls might occur, so we were prepared to stay in the parking lot and gather some information before making a judgment. ”
Reporter's personal experience:
Due to the earthquake, the Shinkansen was shut down urgently
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, on the afternoon of January 1, local time, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake occurred on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.
At the time of the earthquake at 16:10, the reporter was taking the Shinkansen from the capital Tokyo to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, when the alarm sounded on his mobile phone, and the reporter felt a strong shaking in the carriage.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan reminds compatriots in Japan
Prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis
The Chinese Embassy in Japan issued a document on the 1st, reminding compatriots in Japan to pay close attention to meteorological warnings and disaster prevention information, follow the disaster prevention reminders to take emergency shelter, stay away from the sea, and ensure personal safety. In case of emergency, call the Japanese emergency number in time and contact the embassy or consulate in Japan for help.
Emergency numbers in Japan: 119 (firefighting, first aid), 118 (marine accidents, shipwrecks), 110 (police)
Japan Meteorological Agency Chinese Information Website:
https://www.data.jma.go.jp/multi/index.html?lang=cn_zs
Global Emergency Hotline for Consular Protection and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (24 hours):
+86-10-12308；+86-10-65612308
Consular Protection and Assistance Hotline of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Japan is +81-3-6450-2195
Consular Protection and Assistance of the Consulate General in Osaka: +81-6-6445-9427
Consulate General in Fukuoka for Consular Protection and Assistance: +81-92-753-6483
Consular Protection and Assistance of the Consulate General in Sapporo: +81-11-513-5335
Consular Protection and Assistance of the Consulate General in Nagasaki: +81-95-849-3311
Consular Protection and Assistance of the Consulate General in Nagoya: +81-52-932-1036
Consulate General in Niigata for Consular Protection and Assistance: +81-25-228-8888
Source | Yangcheng Evening News Comprehensive China News Network, CCTV News, Xinhua News Agency
Editor: Nie Yue
Source: Yangcheng Evening News WeChat public account