A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Japan... and fears of a tsunami

ArabiaWeather - After a series of strong earthquakes shook the western regions of Japan, the authorities issued warnings about the possibility of tsunami waves, calling on residents to flee as soon as possible. In detail, the Japanese Meteorological Agency announced that an earthquake struck Ishikawa and the surrounding areas, one of which initially reached a magnitude of 7.4. degree .

In a related context, Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV warned that the floods could reach a height of 5 meters (16.5 feet), and the authorities appealed to residents to move away to high areas or take refuge in the tallest building nearby as soon as possible.

Confirming that there is no defect in nuclear power plants after an earthquake that struck Japan

The Japanese Nuclear Agency announced that there was no disruption in the work of nuclear plants in the areas affected by the strong earthquake, and in a statement issued by the Japanese government, the importance of anticipating new earthquakes was stressed, with residents of some areas called to evacuate immediately.

As the authorities explained their efforts to estimate the extent of damage caused by the catastrophic event and determine its effects, major highways in the epicenter area were also closed, Shinkansen bullet train services between Tokyo and the Noto area were suspended, and about 33,500 homes were affected by power outages in the affected area.

Widespread shaking in Japan.
A major 7.4-magnitude #earthquake occurred in #Japan . Widespread shaking in Japan. A #tsunami warning has also been issued. #deprem #sismo pic.twitter.com/X1V4ziPjWy

— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) January 1, 2024

Earthquake challenges in Japan

An earthquake is considered a sudden and rapid shaking of the Earth's surface as a result of the movement of the rock layer beneath its surface, or as a result of volcanic or magmatic activity. An earthquake occurs suddenly and without warning, and can cause catastrophic losses, including loss of life, injury and material damage, with impacts on livelihoods, loss of shelter and disruption of critical infrastructure.

Japan is frequently exposed to natural disasters, of which earthquakes are among the most prominent. Japan has witnessed tragic events, as happened on March 11, 2011, when an earthquake struck the eastern coast of the island of Honshu, the country's largest island, with a magnitude of 9.1 on the Richter scale. This event was followed by massive tsunami waves with a height of up to 20 meters, resulting in the loss of a life. About 29 thousand people, representing the greatest seismic disaster that Japan has ever witnessed.

Read also:

The most famous earthquakes that struck Jordan

What if the Earth was hit by a 10-magnitude earthquake?

Sources:

alarabiya

aljazeera