By Japan was hit by a series of powerful earthquakes in the Sea of Japan, prompting the issuance of tsunami alerts by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The quakes occurred off the coast of Ishikawa and nearby prefectures, with one of them preliminarily measured at a magnitude of 7.6.
Warning and Advisories
A major tsunami warning was issued for Ishikawa, while lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories were issued for the rest of the western coast of Honshu Island. Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV urgently advised residents to take immediate action by seeking higher ground or going to the top of nearby sturdy buildings. NHK also emphasized that the tsunami waves could recur and continued to broadcast warnings long after the initial alert.
Damage Assessment
At the time of writing, reports of damage were not yet available. However, smaller tsunami waves had already reached the coastline, including areas with a nuclear plant. The operator of the nuclear plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co., assured the public that it was conducting thorough checks for any irregularities, but no immediate issues were reported.
Japan’s Vulnerability to Earthquakes
As an earthquake-prone nation, Japan has firsthand experience with the devastating impact of seismic events. In March 2011, a major earthquake and subsequent tsunami led to meltdowns at a nuclear plant.
Stay tuned for updates on the situation as the government prepares to hold a news conference later today.
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