Japan: Nationwide disruptions likely over the coming days following magnitude-7.5 earthquake near Anamizu, Ishikawa Prefecture, Jan. 1 /update 7

Significant travel and business disruptions are likely over the coming days following a magnitude-7.5 earthquake that occurred on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture the afternoon of Jan. 1. As of the afternoon of Jan. 8, authorities have confirmed at least 161 fatalities in Ishikawa Prefecture, including 70 each in Wajima and Suzu cities, with at least 565 others seriously injured. Dozens of others were injured in Toyama, Fukui, and Niigata prefectures. Almost 12,000 people in Ishikawa Prefecture and around 158 people in Toyama Prefecture remain evacuated.

At least 1,400 houses in Ishikawa Prefecture have been completely or partially destroyed, while at least 704 houses in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, and 928 houses in Niigata Prefecture are damaged. Roadways, public transportation infrastructure, and communications and utilities assets have sustained damages. Authorities have advised residents of the potential for prolonged power outages and other utility disruptions. Noto Airport (NTQ) in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, sustained significant damage; commercial flights at the airport should resume by Jan. 25. The earthquake damaged part of the Shiga Nuclear Power Plant; the plant is not operational, and there is no risk of an accident. Power plants in Nanao City in Ishikawa Prefecture, Imizu City in Toyama Prefecture, and Itoigawa City in Niigata Prefecture have also suspended operations. Confirmation of full damage reports may take several days due to disruptions to the transportation network.

All Shinkansen lines are operating normally. Noto Railway has stated that restoring the Nanao Line between Takamatsu and Hakui station could take at least two weeks due to damage. In Ishikawa Prefecture, part of the Noetsu Expressway at Nanao and Nanao Shiroyama interchanges and between Noto Mitsui and Anamizu interchanges in Wajima City are closed. Numerous national and prefectural roads in Ishikawa Prefecture are also closed, with the worst impacted areas in and near Wajima, Nanao, and Hakui cities.

Power outages are affecting around 18,440 homes in Ishikawa Prefecture, mainly in the Noto region. Around 10,000 homes in Wajima City and 4,800 homes in Suzu City, as well as more than 5,000 homes in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, remain without water. Telecommunications operators reported that mobile phones remain unavailable in some areas of Nanao, Suzu, and Wajima cities, as well as Noto Town in Ishikawa Prefecture.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) canceled its initial earthquake-related tsunami warnings and advisories early Jan. 2. A 1.2-meter (3.9-foot) tsunami wave struck Ishikawa Prefecture Jan. 1 following the temblor, sparking a fire in Wajima City that destroyed at least 200 buildings; emergency crews extinguished the fire early Jan. 2. The tsunami flooded at least 120 hectares (296 acres) of Suzu City and Noto Town. Another fire in Shiromaru, Noto Town, damaged 20 houses.

The earthquake struck at approximately 16:10 Jan. 1, with its epicenter about 42 km (26 miles) northeast of Anamizu. The quake produced violent to extreme shaking near the epicenter, with strong-to-very strong tremors across west-central Honshu and weak-to-moderate shaking across the rest of the island. Dozens of magnitude 5.0 and above aftershocks followed the initial earthquake. It could take several days until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments.