Photos: Strongest Earthquakes Hit Japan on New Year's Day

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On January 1, more than 40 earthquakes struck central Japan, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6 — the strongest to hit this area of Japan since 1885. For the first time since 2011, the threat of a “big earthquake” was announced.
The first day of the new year turned into a tragedy for the residents of Japan: after a series of powerful earthquakes in the Ishikawa prefecture, more than a hundred buildings were damaged, some collapsed, resulting in at least two deaths, and several dozen people injured, the media reported.
The earthquakes led to a tsunami: the threat of a “big tsunami” has been declared for the entire western coast of the country. In some areas, the recorded wave height was 5 m, reports said.
Thus, at least 97 thousand residents in 9 prefectures reportedly received evacuation orders due to the ongoing threat of a tsunami.
As a result of the natural disaster, more than 33,000 houses in the country were left without power supply, and there were interruptions in mobile communications. At least 25 domestic flights were canceled, and train services were partially suspended, the media revealed.
Furthermore, in several cities, rescuers are reportedly working to extinguish large fires caused by the earthquakes, and landslides have occurred in several mountainous areas of the country.
However, according to the Nuclear Energy Control Committee, no emergency situations have been recorded at Japanese nuclear facilities.
Take a look at Sputnik Africa's gallery to see the devastating aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
© AFP 2023 Yusuke Fukuhara

People stand next to large cracks in the pavement after evacuating into a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon.

People stand next to large cracks in the pavement after evacuating into a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon. - Sputnik Africa
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People stand next to large cracks in the pavement after evacuating into a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon.

© AFP 2023 Yusuke Fukuhara

People sit outside in the open after evacuating from buildings in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon.

People sit outside in the open after evacuating from buildings in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon. - Sputnik Africa
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People sit outside in the open after evacuating from buildings in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon.

© ANNnewsCH

Fires at the site of the tsunami in Japan.

Fires at the site of the tsunami in Japan. - Sputnik Africa
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Fires at the site of the tsunami in Japan.

© AFP 2023 Yusuke Fukuhara

A car drives past a badly damaged pavement along a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon.

A car drives past a badly damaged pavement along a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon. - Sputnik Africa
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A car drives past a badly damaged pavement along a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon.

© AP Photo / Eugene Hoshiko

A tsunami warning is shown on TV in Yokohama, near Tokyo Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

A tsunami warning is shown on TV in Yokohama, near Tokyo Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. - Sputnik Africa
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A tsunami warning is shown on TV in Yokohama, near Tokyo Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

© AFP 2023 Yusuke Fukuhara

This general view shows badly damaged buildings along a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon.

This general view shows badly damaged buildings along a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon. - Sputnik Africa
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This general view shows badly damaged buildings along a street in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture on January 1, 2024, after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture in the afternoon.

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