A massive earthquake has rocked Japan, collapsing buildings and the government issuing a tsunami warning.
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30 people confirmed dead Original report: The number of casualties caused by the quake has not been determined, The Associated Press reported.
Read More Update 1:11 a.m. EST Jan. 2: Officials said that 30 people were confirmed dead in Ishikawa, according to The Associated Press . Buildings, vehicles and boats were damaged after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake, and officials warned residents to stay away from their homes due to the risk of more earthquakes.
Seven people were seriously injured, officials said.
More than a dozen earthquakes, with the highest registering 7.5, northeast of Anamizu in the Ishikawa prefecture, just after 4 p.m. local time.
Japan quake (US Geological Survey)
The Japan Meteorological Agency had initially issued the highest-level tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower levels for other areas but has since lowered the alert to either warnings or advisories for Honshu and Hokkaido.
There still is a threat of a tsunami with waters reaching 10 feet, along with potential aftershocks rocking the same area for the next few days.
The Hayashi government said that people living on the coast should leave their homes.
“Every minute counts. Please evacuate to a safe area immediately,” government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said. Some people have been evacuated to stadiums. Schools are also being used as evacuation sites.
Japan earthquake JOETSU, JAPAN - JANUARY 01: Local people get evacuated to the shelter at Joetsushi Total Gymnastics on January 01, 2024 in Joetsu, Japan. A tsunami warning was issued for Japan's western coastline after a series of earthquakes, the biggest measuring around 7.4 magnitude, hit the areas around Toyama and Niigata in central Japan. (Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images) (Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)
About 1,000 members of the military have been deployed to help with rescue and recovery efforts with another 8,500 on standby, CNN reported.
Ishikawa has damaged buildings, power outages, fires and cracked roads. In Wajima City, damaged roofs and wooden beams are scattered across the city.
Japan Earthquake A house is damaged by an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
As many as 33,000 homes are without power and the power converter at the Shika nuclear power plant was affected but with “no major results,” according to CNN . There was no problem with the plant’s reactors the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said.
It has been 13 years since an earthquake-caused tsunami damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Roads are closed, some flights are canceled and the country’s famous bullet train was stopped in some regions but selected services have been restored. Still, the transportation issues may have an impact on the medical response as some doctors are unable to get to work because of the damaged roads while one hospital in Suzu is running on a spare generator due to power outages, while medical staff at another are treating patients in a parking lot.
Japan earthquake An infographic titled 'Series of powerful earthquakes strikes Japan, triggering tsunami alert' was created in Ankara, Turkiye on January 1, 2024. (Photo by Muhammed Ali Yigit/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Japan earthquake This image taken in Hong Kong on January 1, 2024 shows a warning message on a screen from a live feed on NHK World asking people to evacuate from the area after a series of major earthquakes hit central Japan. A powerful 7.5 earthquake hit central Japan on January 1, the USGS said, prompting tsunami warnings and authorities to urge people in the area to move to higher ground. (Photo by Mladen ANTONOV / AFP) (Photo by MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images) (MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Japan earthquake JOETSU, JAPAN - JANUARY 01: Local people get evacuated to the shelter at Joetsushi Total Gymnastics on January 01, 2024 in Joetsu, Japan. A tsunami warning was issued for Japan's western coastline after a series of earthquakes, the biggest measuring around 7.4 magnitude, hit the areas around Toyama and Niigata in central Japan. (Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images) (Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)
Japan earthquake JOETSU, JAPAN - JANUARY 01: Local people get evacuated to the shelter at Joetsushi Total Gymnastics on January 01, 2024 in Joetsu, Japan. A tsunami warning was issued for Japan's western coastline after a series of earthquakes, the biggest measuring around 7.4 magnitude, hit the areas around Toyama and Niigata in central Japan. (Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images) (Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)
Japan earthquake JOETSU, JAPAN - JANUARY 01: Local people get evacuated to the shelter at Joetsushi Total Gymnastics on January 01, 2024 in Joetsu, Japan. A tsunami warning was issued for Japan's western coastline after a series of earthquakes, the biggest measuring around 7.4 magnitude, hit the areas around Toyama and Niigata in central Japan. (Photo by Annabelle Chih/Getty Images) (Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)
Japan earthquake Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to the media about the situation following a major earthquake and following tsunami warning for the western coast of Japan, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on January 1, 2024. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP) / Japan OUT (Photo by STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images) (STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)
Japan Earthquake Books are scattered at a bookstore in Niigata, Japan following an earthquake Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts and told people to evacuate seaside areas after a series of strong quakes on its western coastline Monday. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake This shows a fire occurred following an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts and told people to evacuate seaside areas after a series of strong quakes on its western coastline Monday. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake People receive extra edition of Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reporting the earthquakes Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in Tokyo. Japan issued tsunami alerts and ordered evacuations following a series of earthquakes on Monday that started a fire and trapped people under rubble on the west coast of its main island. The headline reads " Ishikawa, earthquake intensity 7." (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama) (Shuji Kajiyama)
Japan Earthquake This image from a video shows a fire occurred following an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts and told people to evacuate seaside areas after a series of strong quakes on its western coastline Monday. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake This image from a video shows a fire occurred following an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts and told people to evacuate seaside areas after a series of strong quakes on its western coastline Monday. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited/AP)
Japan Earthquake A staff member of Japan Meterological Agency speaks at a press conference in Tokyo Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, following an earthquake. Japan issued tsunami alerts and told people to evacuate seaside areas after a series of strong quakes on its western coastline Monday. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake Customers crouch following an earthquake at a supermarket in Toyama, Japan Sunday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts and told people to evacuate seaside areas after a series of strong quakes on its western coastline Monday. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake A part of a commercial facility collapses in Kaga, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts and told people to evacuate seaside areas after a series of strong quakes on its western coastline Monday. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake In this image from a video, people take shelter at a parking lot of a junior high school after an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake People walk to a higher place to take shelter after an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes in the Sea of Japan.(Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake A house is damaged by an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake A bookshelf falls at a home in Nagaoka, Niigata prefecture, Japan Sunday, Jan. 1, 2024, following an earthquake. Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited)
Japan Earthquake People crouch following an earthquake at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, western Japan Monday, Dec. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited/AP)
Japan Earthquake A torii gate is damaged after an earthquake at a shrine in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited/AP)
Japan Earthquake Cracks are seen on the ground in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, following an earthquake. Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes in the Sea of Japan. (Kyodo News via AP) (Uncredited/AP)