The toll from a series of powerful earthquakes in Japan, including a magnitude 7.5 quake, has risen to 57, with most fatalities reported in Wajima and Suzu on the Noto Peninsula in the hard-hit Ishikawa prefecture, according to officials cited by NHK World. Over 20 people are seriously injured, and there are fears that many remain trapped under collapsed buildings.
The earthquakes struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa on Monday, causing building collapses and prompting tsunami warnings reaching as far as eastern Russia. The country’s meteorological office recorded a total of 155 earthquakes that day.
Rescue efforts faced challenges on Tuesday as aftershocks and poor weather hindered operations. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a warning about heavy rainfall in Noto, cautioning against landslides until Wednesday evening.
A tragic setback occurred when an aircraft carrying emergency supplies caught fire after a runway collision at Haneda airport on Tuesday, resulting in the death of five coastguard crew members.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the urgency of the situation, acknowledging the race against time to rescue those possibly trapped in collapsed structures. The government, led by Kishida, plans to convene an emergency task force meeting on Wednesday morning to address relief and rescue operations.
In Suzu, a coastal city severely affected by the earthquakes, Mayor Masuhiro Izumiya reported widespread devastation, stating that “almost no houses are standing.” Approximately 90% of the town’s houses are either completely or almost entirely destroyed, describing the situation as catastrophic.
Japan, accustomed to frequent earthquakes, faces the aftermath of this recent seismic activity, reminiscent of the devastating 9.0 magnitude quake in 2011, which triggered a tsunami resulting in around 18,500 casualties.”