In the wake of a series of powerful earthquakes that struck Japan on Monday, the government has lowered its top-tier tsunami alert, yet cautioned residents against returning to their homes due to the potential for lingering aftershocks and deadly waves.
The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded over a dozen potent tremors, including one of 7.6 magnitude, in the Japan Sea off the coast of Ishikawa and neighboring prefectures, commencing shortly after 4 p.m. local time.
Initially, the meteorological agency issued a significant tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lesser tsunami warnings or advisories for the remainder of Honshu's western coast and Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's main islands.
Several hours later, the warning was downgraded to a regular tsunami, indicating that the sea could still produce waves reaching up to 10 feet. The agency also warned of potential aftershocks in the same area over the coming days.
The region had experienced over a dozen powerful quakes, posing risks of triggering landslides and causing buildings to collapse. These tremors ignited a fire and led to the collapse of buildings on Honshu's west coast.
Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV initially warned of water torrents potentially reaching heights of 16.5 feet. The network continued to broadcast warnings as aftershocks shook the region.
Images of the ensuing chaos depicted individuals fleeing through the streets and red smoke billowing from a residential area fire. Photographs revealed a crowd of people, including a woman carrying a baby on her back, standing near massive cracks that had torn through the pavement.
According to NHK, some individuals suffered minor injuries from tripping and falling during their escape, or from objects falling off shelves and striking them.
Bullet train services in the affected area were suspended, with some services restored by evening. Portions of a highway were closed, and water pipes had burst. Some cellular services in the region were also disrupted.
Government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi reported that at least six homes off Ishikawa's coast were damaged by the quakes, with individuals trapped inside. A fire erupted in Wajima city, Ishikawa Prefecture, and over 30,000 households experienced power outages.
Hayashi emphasized the need for people to evacuate coastal areas. He reported no confirmed fatalities or injuries from the quakes and noted that Japan's military was participating in rescue efforts.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida informed reporters that the Japanese government had established a special emergency center to collect information on the earthquakes and tsunami and quickly relay it to residents to ensure their safety.
Japan is a highly earthquake-prone nation, but a tsunami warning of Monday's magnitude had not been issued since a significant earthquake and tsunami led to nuclear plant meltdowns in March 2011.
Hayashi informed reporters that nuclear plants in the affected area reported no irregularities on Monday. Nuclear regulators reported no increases in radiation levels at the region's monitoring posts.
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