A seismic jolt registering 7.6 on the Richter scale struck Japan, resulting in the crumbling of residences, the violent upheaval of roadways, and the issuance of tsunami alerts along coastal regions.
Authorities have instructed tens of thousands residing near the Sea of Japan to evacuate to elevated areas as a precautionary measure.
Central Japan has experienced a series of smaller earthquakes, numbering in the dozens since approximately 4 p.m. local time, with forecasts indicating a likelihood of additional seismic activity.
The coast of Ishikawa prefecture witnesses tsunami waves, with some surpassing a meter in height, yet these waves are less formidable than the 5-meter-high warnings issued by authorities.
Japan witnesses the de-escalation of a significant tsunami alert for the Noto area—the first instance of a downgrade since the seismic events of 2011.
Read also: Japan PM Set To Fire 4 Ministers Over Corruption Allegations
Concurrently, authorities have extended tsunami warnings to the adjacent Niigata and Toyama prefectures, cautioning of the potential for waves to reach heights of 3 meters.
No irregularities have been reported from nuclear power plants along the Sea of Japan, as stated by the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, providing a sense of reassurance amidst the seismic events.
At least 30 reports of building collapses have reached the Wajima City Fire Department in Ishikawa, as conveyed by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK.
While the “major tsunami warning” for the Ishikawa Prefecture has been downgraded to a “tsunami warning”, officials are still urging caution, with people in the area being asked to evacuate.
A snowboarder on holiday in Japan’s Hakuba Alps was in his hotel room when the earthquake struck.
“The whole room was shaking, the TV was shaking, I had to keep everything on the table,” Baldwin Chia told the Reuters news agency.
“My friends were still outside,” Chia says, “so my first instinct was to text them, to see if they’re okay”.
A circulated video captures the unsettling sight of cars violently shaking in a parking area.