Japan's Prime Minister has declared a "battle against time" as the nation grapples with a series of major earthquakes, leaving at least 30 dead, dozens injured, and sparking fires that have destroyed homes. The urgent rescue mission faces significant challenges, with reports of bodies being recovered from collapsed buildings and others still trapped.
Fumio Kishida emphasized the need to swiftly rescue those trapped under structures during an emergency disaster meeting. To aid in the rescue operations, one thousand army personnel have been dispatched to the most severely affected region on the Noto peninsula. However, damaged and blocked roads, along with a closed airport due to runway cracks, have impeded the efforts.
In Wajima city, fires continued to burn on Tuesday morning, with over 100 homes and buildings reported as completely destroyed. Of the reported 30 casualties, 15 were in Wajima city, particularly around the Asachi-dori street, known for its many wooden buildings. The cause and full casualty numbers remain unclear.
The earthquakes, the largest registering a magnitude of 7.6 at a shallow depth of 10km, struck the west coast of Japan's main island on Monday, shaking buildings in Tokyo, approximately 300km away. The epicenter was on the Noto peninsula, resulting in concentrated loss of life and injuries.
Aftershocks are anticipated in the affected areas over the next few days, and coastal residents are advised not to return home despite lifted tsunami warnings. The Japanese public broadcaster NHK initially warned of potential high water levels, leading to evacuations to sports halls, schools, and public buildings.
Transportation systems, including bullet trains and flights, were suspended, major highways remained closed, and burst pipes disrupted water supplies in some areas. Mobile phone networks were damaged, though service restoration efforts were underway.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged support for Japan, urging affected British nationals to heed Japanese authorities' advice. US President Joe Biden expressed readiness to provide necessary assistance to the Japanese people.
While Japan is prone to earthquakes, a tsunami warning of this magnitude had not been issued since the devastating quake and tsunami in 2011, which claimed 18,000 lives. The disaster led to nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, resulting in most of Japan's nuclear power plants being shut down. Authorities have reported no rises in radiation levels or abnormalities at monitoring posts and reactors along the nearby coastline.