The death toll from the powerful earthquake that destroyed buildings on the northwest coast of Japan’s Noto Peninsula rose to just 50 as rescuers searched for survivors trapped under rubble.
One of the places hardest hit by Monday’s magnitude-7. 6 quake was Wajima, a city of about 23,000 people known for its lakesps and fishing port on the Sea of Japan. A chimney in the city center after the quake devastated about 200 homes and shops, Kyodo News reported, and prefectural officials said at least 19 other people had turned up dead in the city.
The aftershocks shook the domain about 310 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, and Japan sent about 1,000 soldiers and aircraft from its self-defense forces to help with rescue efforts, according to FNN television.
The government’s most sensible spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that 120 appeals had been made to rescue the collapsed buildings. Hayashi also asked the public to refrain from spreading false data about the damage. The earthquake did not affect the protection of nearby nuclear power plants. power plants, he added.
Many families in the area spent the New Year holidays in evacuation centers and many others lined up for new water after the earthquake disrupted services. With rain forecast overnight, the threat of more landslides is increasing, public broadcaster NHK said.
At least 48 other people were killed in Ishikawa, the prefecture said in Array, and 16 other people were seriously injured. Authorities are proceeding to verify how many more people might be missing, he said.
The mayor of Suzu, close to the epicenter of the quake, said as many as 1,000 homes in the city may have been destroyed, and the area is running short of food, water and other necessities, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.
The largest tsunami recorded after Monday’s quake occurred in Wajima, with a height of about four feet. The tsunami warning for the coast of the Sea of Japan was lifted on Tuesday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the quake caused widespread damage and that he had set up a task force to carry out rescue and repair operations. The networks briefly interrupted a live broadcast of their news conference when a giant aftershock hit the region, the newest in a series of dozens.
No official estimate of the damage has been released. Although the cost is expected to be huge for many others in the region, Tokyo Marine Holdings Equity Research said in a study note that the event is not expected to cause major pressure on insurance. Companies.
Markets are closed in Japan until Wednesday, New Year’s Eve. The Japanese yen fell against the high of its Group of 10 peers in quiet Christmas trading as investors kept an eye on post-quake conditions.
The peninsula is not a major commercial hub, however, some giant corporations have production sites in neighboring areas affected by the earthquake. Murata Manufacturing Co. has thirteen factories that make electronic parts in Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui prefectures, and a spokesperson said the company read the situation.
Semiconductor manufacturing system maker Kokusai Electric Corp. said the quake caused some damage to a facility in Toyama and it was checking the supply chain situation. Komatsu Ltd. is assessing the impact on its facilities in Ishikawa and other areas, a spokesperson said.
Toshiba Corp. said it halted operations at a chip factory in Ishikawa after the quake and reviewed infrastructure and equipment.
Some railways were suspended and power plants halted operations, while several roads and an airport runway were closed due to damage. Mobile phones were affected. According to Hokuriku Electric, about 33,000 homes were without power as of 5:45 p. m. on Tuesday, while parts of the domain were also left without running water.
President Joe Biden said his administration has been in contact with Japanese officials and that the United States “stands in a position to provide any necessary assistance to the Japanese people,” according to a White House statement.
Video from the domain shows fissures tearing apart streets, collapsed houses and a seven-story building lying on its side after being toppled by the quake.
Emperor Naruhito canceled a public appearance scheduled for New Year’s Tuesday in Tokyo to pay attention to those affected by the earthquake, the Imperial Household Agency said.