Half of the deaths were recorded in Wajima, where a massive fire destroyed homes, the government of Ishikawa Prefecture on the main island of Honshu said.

Japanese rescuers searched for survivors in the face of repeated powerful followingshocks on Tuesday.

The 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture triggered tsunami waves more than a meter high, collapsed buildings, caused a major fire at the port and destroyed roads.

As the day progressed, the extent of the devastation on the Noto Peninsula became apparent: buildings were still burning, homes were razed to the ground, and fishing boats had sunk or washed ashore.

“Extremely extensive damage has been confirmed, including many casualties, building collapses and fires,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said following a disaster management meeting, calling for an urgent search and rescue of victims.

Almost 45 thousand households were left without power in Wajima, where overnight temperatures reached the sub-zero mark, the local energy supplier said. There was no water supply in many cities.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.5. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the magnitude at 7.6 and said it was one of more than 150 tremors that shook the region by Tuesday morning.

Several strong followingshocks were felt early Tuesday, including a 5.6-magnitude shock that forced national broadcaster NHK to cut a special program.

The tsunami warning has been cancelled

Waves of at least 1.2m crashed through Wajima on Monday, while several smaller tsunamis were recorded elsewhere.

Warnings of much bigger waves failed to materialize and Japan canceled all tsunami warnings on Tuesday.

Social media showed cars and houses shaking violently in the city of Ishikawa, and terrified people in shops and train stations. Houses collapsed and huge cracks appeared in the roads.

NHK reported that 25 houses collapsed in Wajima, including 14 houses where people may have been trapped.

According to the Fire Protection and Disaster Management Agency, a total of 62,000 people were ordered to evacuate. people.

The Ministry of Defense reported that regarding 1,000 people stayed at the military base. people.

Monday’s earthquake shook apartments in the capital, Tokyo, regarding 300 km away, where a public New Year’s reception for Emperor Naruhito and his family was canceled.

Japan’s road operator said several major highways were closed around the epicenter, and high-speed trains from Tokyo were suspended.

Constant earthquakes

Japan experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year, and the vast majority of them cause no damage.

A government report states that since 2018, the number of earthquakes in the Noto Peninsula region has been steadily increasing.

In 2011, Japan was rocked by a strong 9.0-magnitude underwater earthquake off the coast of Northeast Japan, which caused a tsunami that killed or went missing regarding 18,500 people. people.

It also flooded the Fukushima nuclear power plant, causing one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters.

Japan’s nuclear power authority said there were no reports of damage at the Shika nuclear power plant in the city of Ishikawa and other plants following Monday’s quake.

In Washington, United States President Joe Biden was briefed on Monday’s earthquake and offered Japan “any necessary assistance” in dealing with the followingmath.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered condolences and assistance.