Japan Hit by 7.6 Earthquake, Buildings Topple, Rescue Thwarted by Blocked Roads

At least five people were killed in the strong earthquake that struck central Japan on New Year's Day, according to reports from police and local authorities early on Tuesday about bodies being pulled from the wreckage of fallen buildings.

The mid-afternoon on Monday saw the earthquake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, destroy buildings, cut off electricity to tens of thousands of homes, and force residents of some coastal areas to evacuate for higher ground.

It also caused waves in neighboring South Korea and along Japan's extensive western coast that reached a height of about one meter (3.3 feet).

When the earthquake ripped open cracks in the runway, one nearby airport remained closed and Army personnel were sent to assist with rescue efforts.

A day after the accident, major roads leading to the worst-affected areas were severely damaged, impeding rescue efforts. The extent of the damage and the death toll were still unknown.

Doctors were reportedly unable to get to the hospital in the severely damaged town of Suzu, according to public broadcaster NHK. It stated that due to a power outage, the hospital was depending on a backup generator.

Following a building collapse in Shika Town, Ishikawa prefecture, a man in his 90s was pronounced dead, according to local police, as reported by broadcaster NTV.

Four people died in Ishikawa, according to Kyodo News, which cited the Prefectural Crisis Management Team. The deceased included a man in his 70s, a woman and man in their 50s, and a small boy.

Search and rescue teams were finding it difficult to get to the worst-hit areas because of blocked roads, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida informed reporters late on Monday.

Following the earthquake, President Joe Biden said in a statement that the US was prepared to assist Japan as needed.

"Our people are united by a strong friendship between the United States and Japan, who are close allies. We are praying for the people of Japan during this trying time "said he.

As of Monday night, the Japanese government announced that it had issued evacuation orders for over 97,000 residents of nine prefectures located on Honshu's western coast. They were spending the night in school gymnasiums and sports halls, which are frequently utilized as emergency evacuation hubs.

According to the website of Hokuriku Electric Power, nearly 33,000 households in Ishikawa prefecture were still without electricity early on Tuesday morning.

Following the catastrophe, the Imperial Household Agency announced on Tuesday that it would postpone Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako's scheduled New Year's appearance.

atomic plants

The earthquake strikes at a sensitive moment for Japan's nuclear industry, which has been confronted with strong opposition from certain residents ever since the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in 2011 and led to the Fukushima nuclear meltdowns. That disaster destroyed entire towns.

Nuclear plants around the Sea of Japan, including five operational reactors at Kansai Electric Power's Ohi and Takahama plants in Fukui Prefecture, were found to be normal, according to the Nuclear Regulation Authority.

The agency stated that Hokuriku Electric's Shika plant, which is the closest to the epicentre, had already stopped its two reactors for routine inspections prior to the earthquake and had not experienced any seismic damage.

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