The toll from a series of powerful earthquakes that struck Japan's Ishikawa prefecture climbed to 64 on Wednesday, with ongoing search and rescue operations amid aftershocks and additional damages.
On Wednesday at 10:54 a.m. local time, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake rattled off the Noto Peninsula at a depth of 10 km, as reported by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). This followed a 4.6-magnitude quake on Tuesday at 5:13 p.m., measuring upper 5 on the Richter scale, also off the Noto Peninsula at a depth of 10 km.
Since the initial strong earthquakes, including the 7.6-magnitude tremor on Monday, the region has endured approximately 155 temblors. While the JMA lifted all tsunami advisories along the Sea of Japan post-quake, meteorological officials cautioned about potential strong aftershocks, especially over the next two to three days.
As rescue efforts continue, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reported that 57,360 people evacuated across 955 locations in quake-affected Ishikawa and Niigata prefectures. Reports indicate water supply disruptions in 16 cities and towns within the Noto region, heavily affected by the quakes.
Around 1,000 Self-Defense Force officers have been deployed to the disaster area to assist in rescue operations. The JMA recorded a maximum three-component vector sum peak ground acceleration of 28,266 gals during the strongest earthquake, comparable to figures observed during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in Kuriyama city, Miyagi prefecture.
While higher acceleration often signifies greater shaking and potential damage, the duration of the shaking and other factors also influence the impact, according to JMA. Injuries have been reported across Ishikawa, Niigata, Fukui, Toyama, and Gifu prefectures. The region remains on alert as authorities strive to aid affected areas and mitigate further risks.
(With Agency Inputs)
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