Weather of Arabia - A violent earthquake struck central Japan at the beginning of the new year - 2024 - resulting in the death of at least six people, as police and prefectural authorities announced in the early hours of Tuesday morning (local time) that bodies had been recovered from under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The quake, with initial reports showing a magnitude of 7.6, struck in the afternoon on Monday, destroying buildings and knocking out power in many homes, prompting residents of some coastal areas to flee to higher ground.
The quake caused sea waves nearly a meter high along the western coast of Japan and neighboring South Korea.
The extent of the damage and the number of victims are still unclear, about a day after the accident, as major roads leading to the most affected areas were affected, which undermined rescue efforts.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that more than 155 earthquakes had been recorded since the quake first struck the remote Noto Peninsula on Monday. The agency warned of the possibility of other strong earthquakes in the coming days.
Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, announced in a press conference on Monday that it is difficult for search and rescue teams to reach the most affected areas due to road disruption.
Many railway services and flights to the affected areas have also been suspended.
Read also: A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Japan... and fears of a tsunami
Source: news sites
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