Japan was put on high tsunami alert following a sequence of powerful earthquakes that hit the Sea of Japan on New Year’s Day.
These seismic events, including one of a magnitude of 7.6, emanated from beneath the ocean near Ishikawa and its surrounding areas, occurring after 4 p.m. local time (2 a.m. ET), as per the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Authorities quickly released tsunami warnings for the coastal regions of Niigata, Toyama, and particularly Ishikawa, which suffered power losses in upwards of 33,000 buildings by 6 p.m. (4 a.m. ET), according to Hokuriku Electric Power.
The national broadcaster NHK warned of potential tsunami waves reaching heights of up to 5 meters (16.5 feet) and urged inhabitants of the western coastline to move to elevated areas immediately. These quakes were felt as far as Tokyo, the nation’s capital.
Videos on social media showcased the quakes’ effects, including footage from a shaking and power-deprived Kanazawa train station in Ishikawa Prefecture. Another video showed a Kanazawa-based family in their apartment frantically clinging to their surroundings during intense tremors.
The largest tsunami wave recorded to date, measuring 1.2 meters (around 4 feet), was detected at Ishikawa’s Wajima Port at 5:21 p.m. (3:21 a.m. ET), as broadcasted by Nippon TV. This wave did not breach the port’s defenses.
A fire broke out in Wajima’s downtown area on the northern Noto Peninsula, confirmed by an official statement from the local government. Wajima Municipal Hospital reported attending to people with injuries like sprains and head wounds caused by falling objects.
In Nanao, another city on the peninsula, authorities reported multiple landslides, cracks in roads, and building collapses.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in a post-warning press address, assured the nation of swift and continuous information dissemination from the government. He stressed the importance of rapidly evaluating the extent of damage and injuries, committing to collaboration with local bodies to ensure public safety.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, announced in a briefing that the governor of Ishikawa had sought military aid. He assured that no abnormalities had been detected in the nuclear reactors in the affected regions.
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Hayashi also pointed out significant disruptions in local transportation, noting the closure of certain highway parts, halted train services in some zones, and the temporary closure of the runway at Noto airport.
