Japan has suffered several significant disasters in recent days, leaving many dead and injured and causing extensive damage across parts of the country.
Img Credit: – Wikimedia Commons
Powerful Earthquake Shakes Northeast Japan
On January 5th, a strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan near Fukushima prefecture. The quake occurred about 10 kilometres (6 miles) under the Pacific Ocean floor. It shook buildings firmly in Tokyo, about 200 kilometres (120 miles) south of the epicentre. Numerous aftershocks have continued to rock the region.
At least three people have died so far, one hit by falling objects and two from heart attacks. Over 150 people have been injured. The earthquake has caused substantial infrastructure damage, with bullet train services suspended, roads cracked, and over 950,000 homes left without power in Tokyo and eight other prefectures.
Tsunami Warnings Issued Along the Coast
Following the offshore quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued warnings for tsunami waves up to 1 meter (3 feet) high along the northeastern coastline. Video footage showed ports in some areas being inundated with waves. Fortunately, the tsunami alerts were removed a few hours later, and wave activity diminished.
The 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which had a much higher 9.0 magnitude, killed over 15,000 people when it unleashed waves as high as 40 meters (130 feet) that travelled several kilometres inland. By comparison, this week’s quake and tsunami have been less severe. However, the possibility of further strong aftershocks remains.
Japan Coast Guard Plane Crash on Runway
A Japanese Coast Guard aircraft which was struck by a passenger plane at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport was instructed only to “taxi to holding point” and had not been cleared for takeoff, an official transcript of air traffic control communications released Wednesday suggests.
The fatal accident saw Japan Airlines flight 516 crash into the Coast Guard aircraft after touching down on the runway on Tuesday, causing it to erupt into a terrifying fireball.
All 379 people on the Japan Airlines (JAL) plane were safely evacuated in what has been hailed as a textbook response from crew and passengers. Five of the six crew members on the smaller Coast Guard aircraft died, according to Japanese Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito.
Japan is located along the seismically volatile “Ring of Fire” bordering the Pacific Ocean, making it prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The recent back-to-back disasters serve as a sobering reminder of the ever-present natural and human-made hazards. However, Japan remains an extraordinarily resilient country as its emergency management systems continue to be tested.
