Death Toll From Powerful Earthquakes in Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture Rises to 24, Reports Reveal

TOKYO/MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The death toll from a series of powerful earthquakes that hit Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture on December 1 increased to 24 people, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported on Tuesday, citing healthcare workers.
Sputnik
On Monday, a triple quake with a magnitude from 5.7 to 7.6 struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture shortly after 4 pm local time (7:00 GMT), collapsing buildings and killing at least two people. Overall, a powerful earthquake that hit Japan on Monday was followed by a series of 87 aftershocks measuring above 2.0 magnitude, Japanese media reported.
The media also reported that dozens of people received injuries in Ishikawa, Toyama, Niigata, Fukui and Gifu Prefectures. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said later that response units had already been sent to the affected region.
The highest number of deaths was recorded in the city of Wajima, the report added.
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Furthermore, public broadcaster NHK reported that there is a risk of strong aftershocks for about a week, particularly in the next two to three days.
The Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded the tsunami warning to a tsunami advisory after the arrival of initial waves. Tsunamis lashed the coast of Ishikawa, while several other prefectures reported sightings.
On Monday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the United Kingdom is ready to provide assistance to Japan.
"My thoughts are with all those affected by the earthquakes in Japan, which have caused such terrible damage. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is a great friend of the UK, and we stand ready to support Japan and are monitoring developments closely," Sunak said in a statement.