01 Jan 2024 | 01:00 PM UTC
Japan: Magnitude-7.5 earthquake occurs near Anamizu, Ishikawa Prefecture, at 16:10 Jan. 1 /update 2
Magnitude-7.5 earthquake occurs near Anamizu, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, at 16:10 Jan. 1. Tsunami warning in effect.
A magnitude-7.5 earthquake occurred in Ishikawa Prefecture at around 16:10 Jan. 1. The epicenter was about 42 km (26 miles) northeast of Anamizu. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and strong shaking probably occurred in areas near the epicenter, with moderate shaking likely across most of central Honshu. There have been no initial reports of casualties due to the earthquake. Several buildings have collapsed in the Ishikawa Prefecture, with Wajima City experiencing at least 30 building collapses. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days; several aftershocks ranging between magnitude-6.2 and magnitude-3.9 followed the initial earthquake.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued tsunami warnings across the northwestern coasts of Chubu and parts of southwestern Tohoku regions, including Fukui, Ishikawa, Niigata, Toyama, and Yamagata prefectures. Tsunami advisories remain in effect for the rest of the western and northwestern coasts of Honshu, Kyushu, and Hokkaido islands facing the East Sea. The Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) has also advised the public in the coastal areas of Gangwon Province to be vigilant for possible sea level fluctuations. Russia also issued tsunami warnings for the cities of Vladivostok and Nakhodka.
At least 36,000 homes are experiencing power outages in the Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures. Telecommunications operators Softbank and KDDI reported phone and internet service disruptions in the Ishikawa and Niigata prefectures, however, communication disruptions are also likely in the Toyama Prefecture.
Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if there is no damage. Further utility outages are likely, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.
Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Move away from the immediate coastlines in areas under tsunami advisories; tsunamis can be long-duration events, and the threat may persist for hours. Vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred; aftershocks could cause additional damage. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available. Due to the threat of landslides, seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area.
