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Frightening visuals pour in as Japan braces for Tsunamis after earthquakes rock island on New Years

January 1, 2024 | | Print Article

A New Year disaster unfolded for Japan as the island nation faced a major tsunami warning after a devastating earthquake leaving many fearing a repeat of the Fukushima nuclear accident.

On Monday, reports of earthquakes, one measuring as great as 7.6 on the Richter Scale, left tens of millions of Japanese citizens bracing for further seismic activity amid warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Twenty earthquakes had been recorded at 4.0 or higher between 4- and 5:30 p.m., triggering concerns of a major tsunami, marked by potential for waves as high as 16 feet.

“Residents need to stay on alert for further possible quakes and I urge people in areas where tsunamis are expected to evacuate as soon as possible,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a statement as nearby nations South Korea and Russia also issued warnings over tsunamis after the epicenter was found to be in the Noto Peninsula, a portion of the main island that jutted out into the Sea of Japan.

Later downgraded to a regular tsunami warning, the threat was far from over after thousands were left without power and at least six were reported trapped under rubble, according to Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi

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“In response to the M7 earthquake at Noto region in Ishikawa prefecture, we have immediately set up the Prime Minister’s Office of Response — Disaster Counter Measure HQ,” reported a statement from Kishida. “Putting human lives as priority, we are making every effort to assess damages — putting forth all efforts in disaster response. For those in affected areas, please pay close attention to the latest information and place personal safety as your priority.”

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Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority reported shortly after the series of quakes that no issues had been detected at any of the nuclear power plants in the area, which included 22 reactors within six separate plants.

Most of the 54 reactors in the country have remained offline since the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident that followed a tsunami, and two in the affected area of the Ishikawa prefecture had been shut down before the quakes as part of a scheduled check.

Though downgraded, ABC News reported that the major tsunami warning was the first of its kind since 2011 and The New York Times recounted, “The cleanup of the area around the Fukushima plant is still in an early phase. The government said the treated radioactive wastewater that was used to cool nuclear fuel rods would likely be released over a period of 30 years.”

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“Last summer, the government announced that it would start releasing the treated water into the ocean. The International Atomic Energy Agency declared that the government’s plan had met the agency’s safety standards,” reported The Times, “but it still raised objections from some scientists, anxiety among fisherman who feared it would hurt their business, and tensions with the Chinese and South Korean governments.”

Kevin Haggerty
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