The number of people killed after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit Japan has risen to at least 20, according to local media.
A series of quakes struck Ishikawa prefecture on Monday afternoon, triggering a now-cancelled tsunami alert that caused some to flee to higher ground.
Buildings collapsed, cracks opened in roads and fires broke out – with Japan’s prime minister saying it is now a race to help the trapped and injured.
Japan earthquake latest – get live updates
“Saving lives is our priority and we are fighting a battle against time. It is critical that people trapped in homes get rescued immediately,” said PM Fumio Kishida.
He said it was especially hard in the northern tip of Ishikawa’s relatively remote Noto peninsula, due to damaged roads.
Image: Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Image: Ujima, Ishikawa
A thousand soldiers have been deployed to the quake area – on Japan’s west coast – alongside police and firefighters, Mr Kishida added.
More on Japan
Related Topics:
Kyodo news agency, citing local authorities, said on Tuesday afternoon that more than 20 people had now died.
Public broadcaster NHK reported 15 were killed just in the city of Wajima, near the epicentre, where smoke and embers were still filling the sky on Tuesday.
Advertisement
Many rail services, ferries and flights into the area have also been suspended.
Noto airport has shut due to damage to the runway, terminal and access roads, with 500 people stranded inside cars in its car park.
Image: Many buildings have collapsed or been damaged
Image: Rescuers are trying to find anyone trapped. Pic: Kyodo via AP
Image: The earthquake hit on the west of Japan’s main island
More than 140 tremors have been recorded since the quake first hit, according to Japan’s meteorological agency – which has warned more strong shocks could follow.
On Monday night, around 100,000 people were also evacuated from the quake zone and spent the night in school halls and gyms.
Japanese people are well-drilled on what to do in an earthquake and most of the country’s modern buildings are built with some kind of quake resistance.
Read more:South Korean opposition leader ‘stabbed in neck’Israel’s Supreme Court strikes down controversial law
Image: Wajima, near the quake’s epicentre, still has fires burning. Pic: Kyodo via Reuters
Image: Wajima, Ishikawa. Pic: Kyodo News via AP
A 2011 quake and tsunami in Japan led to the Fukushima nuclear accident – the second-worst in history.
However, the country’s nuclear authority said no problems had been detected so far.
President Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are among those who have offered Japan help if needed.
My Biden said the countries shared a “deep bond of friendship”, adding: “Our thoughts are with the Japanese people during this difficult time.”
Rishi Sunak called Japan’s prime minister a “great friend of the UK” and said Britain was “ready to support Japan”.
Source : Sky News
