7.6 quake shakes Japan, tsunami warning issued
A potent 7.6-magnitude earthquake jolted central Japan on Monday, unleashing a wave of tremors and prompting immediate evacuation orders for coastal regions, as reported by Agerpres.
"All residents should evacuate immediately and head to higher ground," implored public broadcaster NHK minutes after the quake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 p.m. local time (7:10 a.m. GMT).
The Japan Meteorological Agency swiftly issued a tsunami warning for the coastlines of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures, bracing for surges up to 5 metres high in Noto Peninsula. Initial reports confirmed waves exceeding one metre already lashing the shores of Wajima city in Ishikawa.
While buildings swayed ominously in the vicinity of Tokyo, the capital sustained no immediate reports of damage or casualties. However, the tremors served as a stark reminder of Japan's precarious position atop the seismically active Ring of Fire.
Hokuriku Electric Power Company scrambled to assess potential impacts at its nuclear plants, underscoring the complex layers of risk associated with such large-scale seismic events.
The initial tremor, initially reported as a 7.4, witnessed an upward revision in magnitude, highlighting the dynamic nature of earthquake data and the crucial role of continual monitoring. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) independently estimated the temblor at 7.4.
Japan, long accustomed to living on the edge of geological volatility, faces the immediate challenge of navigating the aftermath of this earthquake, prioritising the safety of its citizens and the potential for further destructive waves. While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, the swift response and evacuation efforts offer a beacon of hope amidst the tremors.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
