Tsunami hits Japan after 21 earthquakes above 4 magnitude in 90 minutes

Japan faced a magnitude 7.4 earthquake on Monday, triggering a tsunami with waves of 1.2 meters hitting Wajima in Ishikawa. In a span of 90 minutes, 21 earthquakes of over magnitude 4 shook the region. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a major tsunami warning, a first since the devastating 2011 event. The quake disrupted power power supply and transport facilities but no nuclear plant abnormalities were reported.
Japan on Monday was hit by Tsunami waves following an earthquake of magnitude 7.4, reported Reuters citing public broadcaster NHK. Tsunami of 1.2 meters was confirmed to have arrived in Wajima city in Ishikawa prefecture. Japan was hit by 21 earthquakes of more than magnitude 4 in 90 minutes. A much higher tsunami of five meters was expected to arrive in Noto in the same region, AFP reported, quoting the Japan Meterological Agency (JMA) but later officials downgraded the threat to “tsunami warni ..
This is the first time when a major tsunami warning was issued since March 11, 2011, when a huge earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan, killing nearly 20,000 people, devastating towns and triggering nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima.
he tsunami threat has largely passed, a US agency later said.

The earthquake triggered warnings for residents to evacuate, knocked out power to thousands of homes and disrupted flights and rail services to the affected region.

The JMA said the Noto region, on the Sea of Japan side of Japan’s main island of Honshu, experienced a rapid succession of quakes, starting with a 5.7 magnitude tremor at 4:06 pm local time.
In response to the earthquake, the Japan Meteorological Agency had promptly issued a tsunami warning for coastal regions in Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures. The warning underscores the potential impact of the earthquake on these areas, urging residents to take immediate precautions and move to higher ground to ensure their safety.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Niigata Prefecture experienced a 40-centimeter tsunami, as reported by local authorities. Japan has issued another earthquake warning specifically for Ishikawa Prefecture.
South Korea’s meteorological agency had said on Monday the sea level in some parts of the Gangwon province on the east coast may rise further after tsunami wave of 45 cm hit the coast.
Following the seismic shift in Japan, Hokuriku Electric Power Company reported power outages impacting more than 36,000 houses. The earthquake has disrupted electrical services, underlining the immediate challenges faced by residents in the affected areas.
The traffic authority has announced the closure of major highways near the epicenter. The decision to close these vital transportation routes is a precautionary measure to assess and address any potential damage.
On a reassuring note, no abnormalities have been reported at nuclear plants in the quake affected regions so far after a series of major earthquakes rocked central Japan, a government spokesperson said.
“It has been confirmed that there are no abnormalities at Shika nuclear power plant (in Ishikawa) and other stations as of now,” government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

An official from the Japan Meteorological Agency emphasized the necessity to remain vigilant of high intensity earthquakes over the next week, saying that the earthquake has increased the risk of fires and landslides in the affected region.

Japan has suspended high speed rail services to Ishikawa while telecom operators Softbank and KDDI reported phone and internet service disruptions at many places.

Japanese airline ANA turned back four planes headed to airports in Toyama and Ishikawa midair after the quake, while Japan Airlines cancelled most of the flight services to Niigata and Ishikawa regions for the rest of the day, according to TV Asahi.

Japan earthquakes: Watch the first tsunami waves hitting western coastThe Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings for Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures. Top government spokesperson Hayashi Yoshimasa urged residents to prepare for potential further quakes as authorities assessed the damage.
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck central Japan on Monday, prompting a tsunami warning and advisories for residents to evacuate and brace for potential aftershocks. A tsunami around 1 meter high hit parts of the Sea of Japan’s west coast, with a larger wave anticipated, according to NHK. Japan faced a series of 21 earthquakes, each registering a magnitude of more than 4, within a brief 90-minute period.