
On Monday, reports indicated that a seismic event with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 occurred in north-central Japan, leading the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a tsunami warning for coastal areas in Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures. Following strong quakes in western regions, residents were urgently instructed to evacuate to higher ground, particularly in the Noto region of Ishikawa prefecture around 4:10 pm local time (07:10 GMT). An additional earthquake warning was issued for Ishikawa.
Both US and Japanese agencies warned of potentially hazardous tsunami waves, reaching up to 5 meters (16.4 feet), along the north coast of central Japan within 300km (186 miles) of the quake’s epicenter. Yoshimasa Hayashi, the top government spokesperson, emphasized the ongoing assessment of damage and cautioned residents to be prepared for potential aftershocks.

During an emergency news conference, Hayashi revealed that the Hokuriku’s Shika plant in Ishikawa, closest to the quake’s epicenter, had already ceased its two reactors for routine inspection and reported no impact from the seismic event. South Korea’s meteorological agency noted the possibility of a rise in sea levels in parts of Gangwon province on the east coast.
Japan, being highly susceptible to earthquakes, experienced a devastating event on March 11, 2011, when a massive earthquake and tsunami resulted in nearly 20,000 casualties, extensive town destruction, and nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima.