Japan Earthquake Injures At Least 30

Bassyonni

ago 1 hour

A significant earthquake struck northern Japan late Monday night, injuring at least 30 people, according to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The earthquake, initially recorded at 7.6 magnitude, was later adjusted to 7.5 by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). It occurred off the coast of Aomori prefecture at 11:15 PM local time (9:15 AM Eastern Time).

Aftershocks and Warnings

The JMA warned residents of potential aftershocks in the coming days. In her statement, Prime Minister Takaichi urged the public to stay informed through JMA updates and local authorities. She advised checking the stability of furniture and being prepared to evacuate if needed.

Impact on Local Residents

One individual suffered serious injuries on Hokkaido Island, the northernmost part of Japan.
Evacuations were recommended for approximately 28,000 residents in affected areas.
In Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, ground shaking lasted for about 30 seconds.

Residents reported a strong tremor, with alarms being triggered on mobile devices, warning them of the imminent danger. Images captured by local media displayed glass shards scattered across roads and items displaced in stores.

Infrastructure and Services Disruptions

As day broke on Tuesday, locals discovered some damaged roads, compounded by lingering snowfall in the region. Approximately 2,700 households experienced power outages in Aomori, with a small number still without electricity by late morning.

Tsunami Alert Issued

Initially, the JMA issued a tsunami warning for waves as high as 3 meters, prompting evacuations in nearby areas.

Transportation Safety Checks

Rail services, including the Shinkansen bullet trains, were temporarily suspended for safety inspections. However, Tohoku Electric Power reported no abnormalities in the nearby nuclear plants at Higashidori and Onagawa.

Historical Context of Earthquakes in Japan

The region remains sensitive to earthquakes, still recovering from the devastating 9.0 magnitude quake in March 2011, which resulted in significant loss of life and the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan’s geologic position on the Pacific Ring of Fire contributes to its high seismic activity, with about 1,500 earthquakes occurring annually.

Future Earthquake Predictions

Experts released earlier predictions indicating a 75-82% chance of a major earthquake occurring in the Nankai Trough over the next 30 years. Such an event could potentially result in over 298,000 fatalities and cause devastation estimated at $2 trillion.