Another earthquake, urgent action at nuclear plants, tsunami threat "basically over"

Kyodo News reported that at 11:03 p.m. (local time, 9:03 p.m. Vietnam time) on January 1, a new earthquake occurred on the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Province in central Japan, which suffered a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in the afternoon of the same day.

Nhật Bản: Thêm một trận động đất, hành động khẩn ở các nhà máy hạt nhân, đe dọa sóng thần 'cơ bản đã qua'. (Nguồn: AP)

Large cracks on a road in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, after a strong earthquake on January 1. (Source: AFP)

Initial information said the earthquake measured 3.0 on the Richter scale.

Earlier in the afternoon of the same day, a series of strong earthquakes struck a large area on the coast of central Japan, of which the Noto Peninsula suffered the strongest single earthquake. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) officially named this earthquake the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

Authorities have issued a tsunami warning that dangerous waves of up to 5 meters could be within 300 kilometers of the epicenter along the Japanese coast.

However, around midnight, the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (USA) said that the tsunami threat after the earthquake "basically passed".

NHK television reported on the same day that the Japanese government and the country's Atomic Energy Commission have established a task force to prevent emergencies at nuclear power plants after a series of earthquakes.

Currently, data on the situation at Hokuriku Electric Power Company's Shika Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Ishikawa Prefecture, which suffered a fire due to the earthquake, has been collected. Accordingly, the first and second reactors have been suspended, while the task force has stepped up radiation checks at the Shika NPP.

Regarding the damage after the earthquake, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed on the same day that six people were buried by collapsed houses while the fire at NPP Shika had been extinguished.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio called on relevant ministries and agencies to assess the damage caused by the earthquake as soon as possible, ensure people's safety, rescue those trapped and provide appropriate information.

Recent images from local media showed many roads and houses in Ishikawa Prefecture damaged by the strong earthquake, many houses collapsed in Noto and Hakui City. Currently, about 32,500 houses are without power.

In Ishikawa's Kanazawa city, videos taken by residents showed strong tremors on train platforms and carriages.

All Nippon Airways announced that a total of 16 flights departing and arriving at Shonai, Niigata, Noto and Komatsu airports were canceled on the day due to the earthquake, affecting about 1,450 people. Meanwhile, Japan Airlines also canceled a total of 9 flights departing and arriving at Niigata and Komatsu airports.

East Japan Railway Company has suspended all Shinkansen services on the Joetsu and Hokuriku lines in Ishikawa Prefecture.

The JMA has predicted that a powerful earthquake could hit central Japan next week, and has urged people in the area to be on guard against possible strong aftershocks.

Source