Japan Earthquake Update: death toll rises to 57
Japan Earthquake Update: 57 people have already died as a result of a string of strong earthquakes that struck Japan, one of which had a magnitude of 7.5, according to NHK World, which quoted officials from the severely affected Ishikawa prefecture. On the Noto Peninsula, the majority of the deaths have been verified in Wajima and Suzu.
More than 20 people are reportedly in critical condition as investigators work to determine the exact number of unaccounted-for individuals. Many are thought to be stuck beneath crumbling homes. On Monday, the central prefecture of Ishikawa was rocked by earthquakes that resulted in the collapse of buildings and the sending of tsunami warnings as far away as eastern Russia.
155 earthquakes reported
The nation’s meteorological service reports that 155 earthquakes were recorded throughout the nation that day. Rescuers fought bad weather and aftershocks on Tuesday as they searched through debris. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned of heavy rainfall in Noto. “Be on the lookout for landslides until the evening of Wednesday,” the agency said.
Airplane crash at Haneda airport
After a runway collision at Haneda airport on Tuesday, an airplane carrying emergency supplies caught fire, dealing a terrible blow to the rescue and relief efforts. The event claimed the lives of five members of the coastguard team. Given how many people might have been trapped in the collapsing buildings, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed on Tuesday night that “it’s a race against time,” according to NHK.
Also Read: 5 Coast Guard members killed, captain seriously injured in plane crash at Tokyo Airport
Emergency task force meets in Japan
On Wednesday morning, an emergency task force meeting would be held by Kishida’s administration to deliberate on relief and rescue efforts.
Drone video shows the damage after a deadly 7.6 magnitude earthquake on Japan’s western coast. At least 55 people were killed. pic.twitter.com/gbWveRVQ09
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) January 2, 2024
According to Suzu’s mayor, Masuhiro Izumiya, “almost no houses standing” in the seaside city.
“About 90% of the houses (in the town) are completely or almost completely destroyed… the situation is really catastrophic,” he said according to broadcaster TBS.
Every year, hundreds of earthquakes strike Japan, the great majority of which are benign. The island nation remains plagued by a devastating undersea 9.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred in 2011 off the northeastern coast of Japan, causing a tsunami that killed or left some 18,500 people missing.
