A strong earthquake struck the western part of Japan on Monday. Tremors were felt in Ishikawa and surrounding prefectures. As initially reported, the disaster was 7.6 on the Richter scale.
Buildings also began to sway around the capital, Tokyo. Initially, there was no information about the destruction and casualties. According to the US Seismological Service, the strong earthquake was followed by a series of strong aftershocks. One of them had a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale. The magnitude of the second one was 5.2 degrees.
According to the Japanese company Kansai Electric, there were no violations at the nuclear power plants located in the earthquake zone.
Tsunami warning
Public broadcaster NHK reported that after the earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture, a warning was issued for the possibility of a strong tsunami. The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued a tsunami warning for the coastal regions of Niigata and Toyama prefectures.
It is assumed that the height of the waves may reach 5 meters. Authorities are warning residents to flee to higher ground as quickly as possible, and if unable to do so, to the roofs of nearby buildings.
The first waves of the 1.2-meter tsunami reached the town of Wajima in Ishikawa, and another tsunami that reached 40 cm was recorded in the city of Kashizawaki.
The South Korean Meteorological Service said the earthquakes could cause sea levels to rise in eastern Gangwon Province.
On March 11, 2011, a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan, killing 18,000 people. The disaster destroyed many cities and damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
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