Japan is fighting a 'race against time' to save New Year's Day earthquake survivors.
Japan struggled on Tuesday to determine the entire degree of damage caused by an earthquake that rocked its west coast, killing at least eight people, destroying buildings and roads, and knocking out power to swaths of homes in cold conditions.
On Tuesday, Japan battled to determine the entire degree of devastation caused by an earthquake that rocked its west coast, killing at least eight people, destroying buildings and roads, and knocking out electricity to swaths of houses in cold conditions.
The quake struck in the middle of the afternoon on Monday, leading inhabitants in some coastal districts to flee to higher ground as tsunami waves of roughly 1 meter (3.3 ft) pounded Japan’s western seaboard.
Thousands of army men, firefighters, and police officers from all over the country have been rushed to the worst-affected area on the remote Noto peninsula.
Rescue attempts, however, have been hampered by severely damaged and obstructed roads, and one of the area’s airports has been forced to close owing to runway breaches.
Many train services and aircraft into the area have been halted as well.
“The search and rescue of those affected by the earthquake is a race against time,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday during an emergency disaster conference.
Rescuers were having difficulty reaching the northern tip of the Noto peninsula due to ruined roads, according to Kishida, and helicopter scans had revealed numerous fires and severe damage to buildings and infrastructure.
NHK reported eight deaths in the hard-hit town of Wajima, near the epicentre of the quake, while in adjacent Suzu, some medics were unable to access a hospital that was depending on a backup generator for power.
Six individuals were confirmed deceased, according to the national police, while 19 people were in cardiac arrest, according to the fire and disaster management agency.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, more than 90 tremors have been recorded since the quake struck on Monday. The organization has warned that more powerful earthquakes could occur in the coming days.
As the tragedy hindered the distribution of products across the region, several convenience shop shelves in Toyama city, around 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the worst-hit area, were empty.
President Joe Biden stated in a statement that the US was prepared to assist Japan in any way necessary following the earthquake.
“As close allies, the United States and Japan share a deep friendship that brings our people together.” “During this difficult time, our thoughts are with the Japanese people,” he said.
On Monday night, the Japanese government ordered the evacuation of nearly 97,000 people, directing them to sports halls and school gymnasiums, which are routinely used as evacuation centers in emergencies.
On Tuesday, authorities lifted tsunami warnings, allowing many people to return home.
However, according to the Hokuriku Electric Power website, approximately 33,000 households in Ishikawa prefecture were still without power as of early Tuesday morning. According to NHK, most areas in the northern Noto peninsula are also without water.
Following the accident, the Imperial Household Agency announced that Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako’s scheduled New Year’s appearance on Tuesday would be canceled.
PLANTS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY
The earthquake strikes at a critical juncture for Japan’s nuclear industry, which has faced furious opposition from certain people since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that prompted nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima. That tragedy wiped out entire communities.
No anomalies were discovered at nuclear plants in the Sea of Japan, according to the Nuclear Regulation Authority, including five active reactors at Kansai Electric Power’s Ohi and Takahama plants in Fukui Prefecture.
Hokuriku Electric’s Shika facility, the closest to the epicentre, had already halted its two reactors for normal checks before to the quake and observed no impact from the tremor, according to the agency.
Kokusai Electric, a manufacturer of chip materials, said it is conducting additional investigations after discovering minor damage at its Toyama factory ahead of the scheduled restart of operations on Thursday.