Early Monday morning, the Ishikawa region in north-central Japan was once again rocked by a series of earthquakes. This comes as the area is still grappling with the aftermath of a powerful quake that struck on January 1. Thankfully, the latest tremors did not result in any major damage.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit the northern tip of the Noto Peninsula. This was quickly followed by a magnitude 4.8 quake and several smaller aftershocks within the next two hours. Importantly, there was no tsunami warning issued.
In Wajima city, five houses that had already been damaged by the New Year’s quake collapsed. However, no significant injuries were reported, according to officials from Ishikawa prefecture. In Tsubata, a town located about 100 kilometers southwest of the epicenter, a woman in her 60s fell from her bed when the quake alarm sounded, but her injuries were not life-threatening.
Satoshi Harada, a seismology and tsunami expert at the JMA, suggested that Monday’s earthquakes were likely aftershocks of the January 1 earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.6. While seismic activity has decreased somewhat, Harada emphasized the need for caution, especially around buildings that were previously damaged.
The quakes led to temporary suspensions of Shinkansen super-express trains and other train services for safety inspections. Most services have since resumed, as confirmed by West Japan Railway Co. Additionally, the Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no abnormalities at the nearby nuclear power plants. Although the Shika plant on the Noto Peninsula did experience minor damage, it did not impact the cooling functions of the two reactors.
Hokuriku Electric Power Co. assured that there were no power outages in the area.
The repeated tremors have rekindled fears among the residents, who are still dealing with the consequences of the January 1 quake. NHK public television broadcasted images of people leaving their homes and temporary shelters to check for additional damage.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed his concern for those living in evacuation centers, urging them to remain vigilant against potential hazards like falling rocks and landslides, particularly in areas that were strongly shaken.
Reconstruction in the mountainous areas of the Noto Peninsula is progressing slowly. Many homes that were damaged in the initial quake remain untouched. In Wajima, one of the hardest-hit areas, an inn operator recounted his experience of ducking under the reception desk during Monday’s quake. Though nothing fell or broke, it brought back memories of the January disaster and raised concerns about the possibility of another major quake.
The January 1 earthquake had a devastating impact, resulting in 260 deaths, including those who later succumbed to stress, illnesses, and other related causes. Three people are still missing, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA). Over 3,300 residents remain evacuated as recovery efforts continue.
With continued vigilance and support, the region hopes to rebuild and recover fully from these natural disasters.