A series of powerful earthquakes strikes Japan causing significant losses.

Japan has experienced a series of strong earthquakes in the west of the country, resulting in the death of at least 30 people and the destruction of buildings, vehicles, and boats, with officials warning residents in some areas on Tuesday to stay away from their homes due to the risk of further strong earthquakes.

Strong earthquakes continue to shake Ishikawa Prefecture and neighboring areas

After a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the region on Monday afternoon, aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa Prefecture and neighboring areas.

Casualties, injuries, and damages

Officials confirmed that 30 people died in Ishikawa, and 7 others were seriously injured, while the damage to homes was so extensive that it could not be assessed immediately.

Rescue efforts and warnings

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated on Tuesday: “Saving lives is our priority, and we are racing against time. It is critical that people trapped in their homes are rescued immediately.” He added that the Japanese military has sent 1,000 soldiers to the affected areas to join the rescue efforts.

Damages and destruction

Firefighters managed to control a fire in Wajima city that had turned the sky red with embers and smoke. Nuclear authorities stated that several nuclear plants in the area are operating normally. Videos showed collapsed houses, flattened wooden structures, and overturned cars. Boats that partially sank in the bays were left adrift, muddying the shoreline.

Marine level warnings and repercussions

On Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and low-level warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of the main island of Honshu in Japan, as well as for the northern island of Hokkaido.

International assistance and future outlook

U.S. President Joe Biden stated in a statement that his administration is “prepared to provide any necessary assistance to the people of Japan.” Japan is frequently affected by earthquakes due to its location on the “Ring of Fire,” a crescent of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

Over the past day, the country experienced around a hundred aftershocks.

Reports by Yuri Kageyama from Tokyo.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/japan-earthquake-tsunami-western-coast-1efa06adb0ac8d72165890087b4c36cb