When the whole world was celebrating New Year, a massive Earthquake hit central Japan. The quake was very powerful judging by the magnitude which was reported to be 7.5 on the Richter scale. The Richter scale is a measure set for any earthquake and any quake above 5.00 is considered massive and the possibility of damage to life and property is very high.
The quake is reported to have caused damage with buildings crumbling and numerous fire incidents have been reported probably caused by the rupture of underground gas pipelines. The Japanese government has also issued Tsunami warnings which have since been withdrawn.
Authorities have also shut down the nuclear power stations fearing a repeat of the Fukushima disaster which happened in 2011 when a massive earthquake caused a Tsunami which flooded the nuclear power plant and caused a reactor meltdown.
The Earthquake struck at 4.10 p.m. local time and its epicenter was the Noto Peninsula. The epicenter happened at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Earlier it was reported that there was a blast at the Shika nuclear power facility in Ishikawa Prefecture. Authorities have since clarified that the blast happened in a transformer. However, there was no incident and the reactors are safe and working normally.Â
The earthquake has also led to a breakdown in power transmission and many towns in Central Japan are without power. The authorities have also halted the famous Bullet train Shinkansen in the affected cities. As per unconfirmed reports, Eight people have lost their lives in the quake.
Earlier the Japanese authorities had asked the residents in the coastal region to evacuate fearing a Tsunami. A tsunami is a phenomenon when massive waves strike the coasts as a fallout of earthquakes in the coastal regions.
Japan is no stranger to earthquakes as it sits in one of the most seismically active regions of the earth. The shifting of tectonic plates causes the earthquakes. The public is often made to undergo drills and safety procedures to be followed during an earthquake.
The Indian embassy in Tokyo has set up a helpline number and asked Indian citizens to contact this number for any assistance after the massive earthquake struck central Japan. Details of the emergency numbers have been shared on the X handle of the Indian embassy.Â
Also Read: Massive 7.4 Richter Scale Earthquake Strikes Japan on New Yearâs Day 2024
