(VOVWORLD) - The powerful earthquake that hit central Japan on New Year's Day killed at least four people, local police and authorities reported on Monday.
 Fire broke out after the earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan on January 1, 2024. (Photo: Kyodo/VNA) |
The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck in the middle of the afternoon on Monday, destroying buildings, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and prompting residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground.
It also triggered waves about 1 meter (3.3 ft) high along Japan's long western seaboard as well as in neighboring South Korea. Army personnel were dispatched to help with rescue operations, while one local airport was shut down after the quake tore open cracks in the runway.
Japan’s meteorological agency has downgraded the tsunami warning to a tsunami advisory. But people were warned they should remain alert for more possible earthquakes.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan yesterday afternoon established a working group to verify information related to the safety of Vietnamese people living, studying, and working in affected localities. The Embassy had not received any reports of Vietnamese casualties due to the earthquake.