The US Geophysical Institute (USGS) increased from 7.4 to The magnitude of the violent earthquake that struck the central-western coast of Japan today was 7.5, in the Ishikawa prefecture in the center of the island of Honshu, the country’s main island. The quake occurred at 8.10 am Italian time, 4.10 pm local time at a depth of 76 km. The strong earthquake was preceded by a first shock of magnitude 5.5 in the same area. Several houses and electricity poles collapsed officials from the city of Suzu made this known, as reported by the national broadcaster NHK. About 33,500 homes remained without power electric. The affected areas were Toyama, Ishikawa and Niigata prefectures on the Sea of Japan side of the country’s main island, Honshu. There is currently no news of victims or injuries.
There are victims
At least six people have died after the collapse of some homes in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, following the 7.6 magnitude earthquake along the coast of the Sea of Japan. The head of the Cabinet, Yashimasa Hayashi, confirmed this during a press conference, also reporting the spread of fires in the affected area. The governor of Ishikawa prefecture, Hiroshi Ase, asked the government to deploy the Self-Defense Forces in the areas affected by the earthquake.
Tsunami warning
The first tsunami waves caused by a series of strong earthquakes on the coast of central-western Japan are reaching the shore, the country’s meteorological agency (JMA) has announced. Waves 1.2 meters high have already hit the port of Wajima on the Noto Peninsula at the northern tip of Ishikawa Prefecture. But the tsunami threat should be behind us. “The tsunami threat is now largely over,” the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
Russia has issued a tsunami warning for its coastal cities in the Far East after the 7.5 magnitude earthquake recorded west of Japan. A tsunami warning resulting in the evacuation of the population in some areas was declared on the Russian island of Sakhalin, in the city of Vladivostok and in nearby Nakhodka, in the North Pacific Ocean. This was reported by the regional headquarters of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations, quoted by Ria Novosti. “The coastal parts of the western coast of Sakhalin may be affected by tsunami waves,” the ministry says, adding that ships are leaving ports and heading out to sea.
No anomalies in nuclear power plants
No anomalies have been reported for the moment in Japanese nuclear power plants after a series of strong earthquakes recorded today in the central-western prefecture of Ishikawa: this was announced by the government spokesperson. “It has been confirmed that there are no anomalies at the Shika nuclear power plant (located in Ishikawa prefecture, ed.) and other sites at this time,” said government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi.