At least 48 dead after magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture

日 이시카와현 강진으로 최소 48명 사망 여진 위험 계속돼 Over in Japan, the death toll is on the rise after a powerful earthquake struck the country’s west on New Year’s Day. As rescue workers are rushing to find survivors, the country is on high alert, bracing for the possibility of more aftershocks. Song Yoo-jin has the latest. What used to be homes have been reduced to rubble. Smoke and flames spew out from the buildings. These devastating scenes are the aftermath of a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto peninsula in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture on Monday. Local officials confirmed that, as of Tuesday afternoon, at least 48 people have died and another seven have been seriously injured. But the numbers could rise as rescuers are still working to reach those trapped under collapsed buildings. Over 45-thousand homes in the prefecture are without power. The strong tremors could also be felt in the nearby Nagano prefecture. “So the whole room was shaking, the TV was shaking. I had to keep everything on the table.“ The Japanese government dispatched one-thousand soldiers for search-and-rescue operations on Monday. But wrecked roads are making it difficult for rescuers and relief supplies to reach the affected areas. “We will be working in earnest to secure transportation via sea routes.” However, nuclear plants in the region are operating normally. “Beginning with the Shika Nuclear Power Plant closest to the epicenter, there are currently no reported irregularities with nuclear power plants.“ Fears grew as the country witnessed the meltdown of three nuclear reactors in 2011 when a magnitude 9-point-0 earthquake triggered a tsunami that destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Powerplant. While Japan’s Meteorological Agency lifted all tsunami advisories issued after the quake, there are still lingering concerns over potential aftershocks. According to the United States Geological Survey, at least 35 of them have been reported since Monday. Seismologists have warned that aftershocks could last for days, or even months. Tens of thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News. #Japan #Ishikawa #Earthquake #Damage #일본 #이시카와 #지진 #피해 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : 📣 Twitter : 📣 Homepage : 2024-01-02, 18:00 (KST)