02 January 2024 , 02:44
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Japan is fighting against the clock to rescue survivors after a devastating earthquake hit, causing buildings to crumble and firing off a tsunami warning.
The 7.5 magnitude quake struck on Monday, sparking fires as structures collapsed and power lines snapped. Bullet trains and flights were stopped for the day as rescuers rushed to reach the most affected places. Highways are shut and damaged phone networks have caused communications in the region to break down.
This disaster has claimed eight lives so far but search operations are continuing with Japan's Prime Minister describing it as a "battle against time". At an emergency meeting, Fumio Kishida warned: "We must rescue them as quickly as possible, especially those who are trapped under collapsed structures."
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He also added: "Saving lives is our priority and we are fighting a battle against time. It is critical that people trapped in homes get rescued immediately." With regard to this, 1,000 military personnel have been sent by the defence ministry to help out, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara informed reporters on Monday.
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A part of this image has been pixeled) Cars are stranded in the cracks as the road has been damaged by multiple strong earthquakes on January 2, 2024 in Noto, Ishikawa (The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Imag)Firefighters are battling a blaze in Wajima city, causing the sky to glow with embers and smoke. Despite this, nuclear plants in the area are operating as normal, say regulators.
News footage shows rows of houses collapsed, wooden structures flattened, cars overturned and half-sunken ships in bays. This comes after tsunami waves rolled in, leaving the coastline muddy.
On Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and other warnings for the rest of western Japan's main island of Honshu, as well as Hokkaido.
The warning was downgraded several hours later, and by early Tuesday all tsunami warnings were lifted. Waves over one meter high hit some places. The agency has warned that more major quakes could hit the area in the next few days.
An aerial photo shows buildings collapsed in Wajima City, Ishikawa (AP)People evacuated from their homes have taken shelter in auditoriums, schools and community centres. Bullet trains in the region were stopped, but service is being restored in some areas. Sections of highways are closed, water pipes have burst, and some areas have lost cellphone service.
U.S. President Joe Biden has offered to help Japan in any way necessary, following a major earthquake. He said: "We're ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Japanese people." Japan is often hit by earthquakes due to its location on the "Ring of Fire," an area filled with volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.
Firefighters investigate a partly burned and collapsed house on January 02, 2024 in Nanao, Japan (Getty Images)The Japan Meteorological Agency initially issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and other areas along the western coast of Honshu island, as well as Hokkaido, the northernmost of its main islands. This warning was later downgraded to a regular tsunami warning, but they warned that waters could still reach up to 3 meters (10 feet). They also warned of possible aftershocks hitting the same area over the next few days. Despite this, coastal residents were advised not to return home as deadly waves could still arrive.
Hayashi emphasised the importance of people in coastal areas evacuating from the expected tsunami. He said: "Every minute counts. Please evacuate to a safe area immediately," There have been instances where people returning to collect their belongings have been swept away and drowned, even hours after the first evacuation warning. Evacuees were taken to stadiums, where they are likely to stay for a few days.
People walk in front of damaged buildings after multiple strong earthquakes hit the area previous day on January 2, 2024 in Anamizu, Ishikawa (The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Imag)Japanese media showed scary scenes of people running and red smoke coming from a fire in a place where people live. Pictures showed folks, like a mum with her baby, standing next to big cracks in the ground. Some got little hurts when they fell over or stuff fell on them while they were trying to get away, NHK said.
Experts warned in a news conference that was shown all over Japan that more big earthquakes might happen soon, especially in the next few days. They've already felt lots of strong shakes, and there's a chance of landslides and homes falling down.
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Japan is part of the "Ring of Fire," which means it gets a lot of earthquakes and volcanoes. About 10% of the world's earthquakes and 7% of active volcanoes are in Japan. The country often has to deal with big storms, lots of rain, snow, earthquakes, and huge waves from the sea, which can hurt people and damage things.
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