- By Abhirupa Kundu
- Tue, 09 Jan 2024 03:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Japan was hit with a fresh earthquake of magnitude 6.1 as it still recovers from the January 1 jolt which left several homeless and over 200 dead. As per AFP, the earthquake on Tuesday hit central Japan but no tsunami warning has been given yet, the government said.
Meanwhile, at least 565 people in Ishikawa suffered injuries due to the quakes, while more than 320 others remain unaccounted for, the public broadcaster said.As of Tuesday, the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture has recorded 1,248 tremors rated at least 1 on the country's seven-point seismic intensity scale since the January 1 earthquake, according to NHK.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned on Monday that quake-stricken areas are likely to experience powerful tremors with an intensity of upper five or more on the Japanese scale in the coming month.
JMA official Shinya Tsukada told reporters that a quake as powerful as the 7.6-magnitude one on January 1 is less likely to take place, but there is continued seismic activity.Tsukada warned of increased risk of building collapses and landslides, calling on people not to enter dangerous places when engaging in recovery efforts.
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that 500 people could be temporarily housed in a sports centre in Kanazawa but said more evacuation centers were needed, adding that the government was also working to find hotel rooms for evacuees.
Snow accumulation in cities in the Noto Peninsula area had reached about 10 cm late Monday. The snowfall is also delaying rescue and recovery efforts there. The weather agency urged people in the disaster-hit areas to take extra caution with the quake-damaged buildings, which could collapse under the weight of snow, and to stay warm to prevent hypothermia amid severe cold.