Wajima City, Japan – A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the west coast of Japan on Monday, claiming the lives of at least four people. The earthquake also triggered tsunami warnings, which were later lifted, but tsunami advisories remained in effect due to aftershocks.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located 26 miles from Anamizu, Japan, and the Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that a tsunami had indeed hit parts of the area. Several people were transported with injuries to a hospital in Suzu City, and another hospital in Wajima City confirmed that patients were being treated in a parking lot. In addition, a fire broke out in the city center of Wajima City, and there were reports of people trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported dozens of aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.2 quake, and officials warned that the region could experience damaging aftershocks in the hours and days following the earthquake. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mobilized emergency resources to the area to assist with power outages, and concerns were heightened by below-freezing temperatures in much of the affected area.
Preliminary estimates indicated that the 7.5 earthquake was the strongest to hit Japan since 2015, underscoring the severity of the disaster and the challenges faced by the affected communities. The impact of the earthquake on the region’s infrastructure, economy, and residents is likely to be significant, and recovery efforts are expected to be protracted and challenging.
In summary, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the west coast of Japan, claiming at least four lives, causing injuries, and triggering tsunami warnings. The region also experienced aftershocks, power outages, and below-freezing temperatures, posing additional challenges for those affected by the disaster. The earthquake’s impact is expected to be severe, and emergency resources have been mobilized to assist with the response and recovery efforts.