Following a strong earthquake that struck central Japan on New Year’s Day, at least 48 people have been confirmed dead. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has warned that the damage is “widespread” and that the number of victims is expected to climb.

The nation was issued its first big tsunami warning since the earthquake and tsunami that slammed the northeast in March 2011 and left nearly 18,500 people dead or missing. The 7.6 magnitude earthquake occurred on Monday afternoon near the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Speaking on Tuesday, Kishida stated that the earthquake’s ability to pull down structures and start fires was proof of “extensive damage.”

He declared that there were “many” casualties and that there would be a “race against time” to save the victims.

On Tuesday morning, the tsunami warning—which was subsequently downgraded—was lifted.

According to Kyodo News Agency, the incident claimed the lives of over twenty people. In the severely affected village of Wajima, close to the epicentre, where 14 people were reportedly trapped in collapsed buildings, 48 people have reportedly dead, according to public broadcaster NHK. It was reported that several doctors in the neighbouring city of Suzu were unable to get to a hospital that was running on a backup generator.

Although official updates on the death toll have been few, Japan’s disaster management agency stated on Tuesday that it had received unverified reports of 19 deaths earlier in the day.

Since Monday’s initial earthquake, the nation has seen 155 earthquakes, according to the Japan Meteorological Office.

At least a 1.2-meter (4-foot) tsunami struck Wajima, and airborne television footage revealed massive fire damage as a seven-story building fell near the port.

People were being evacuated in the dark from a row of houses that had caught fire; some were carrying newborns, while others were just wearing blankets.

Nobuko Sugimori, a 74-year-old Ishikawa resident of Nanao city, claimed she has never felt an earthquake like this.

Sugimori told the Reuters news agency from her home, which had a wide crack in the front wall and furniture strewn all over the place, “I tried to hold the TV set to keep it from toppling over, but I could not even keep myself from swaying violently from side to side.”

Fujiko Ueno, 73, was counting her blessings across the street.

She added that when the earthquake occurred, some 20 people were celebrating the new year in her home, but no one was hurt.

Standing in the street amid the wreckage and muck seeping out of the fractured road, she remarked, “It all happened in the blink of an eye.”

Sports halls and school gymnasiums, which are frequently utilised as evacuation centres in Japan, hosted up to 100,000 people who were evacuated and spent the night there throughout nine prefectures.

According to the website of Hokuriku Electric Power, about 33,000 households in Ishikawa prefecture were still without electricity early on Tuesday morning. According to NHK, the majority of the northern Noto Peninsula lacked access to water.

The accident forced the Imperial Household Agency to postpone their scheduled Tuesday New Year’s presentation by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

The allies of Japan conveyed their shock at the tragedy and stated they were prepared to help.

 The people of the United States and Japan are united by a strong friendship as close allies. US President Joe Biden released a statement saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan during this difficult time.”

“Solidarity” was conveyed by French President Emmanuel Macron, and support and condolences were extended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak stated he was keeping an eye on developments.

“My thoughts are with all those affected by the earthquakes in Japan which have caused such terrible damage,” he said.

SOURCE: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/2/japan-lifts-tsunami-warnings-but-warns-quake-damage-widespread