TOKYO: The death toll has risen to 30 after a series of strong earthquakes hit central Japan and the vicinity, Xinhua quoted the national news agency Kyodo report on Tuesday, citing local authorities.
Building collapses and fires left at least 30 people dead in the most-hit Ishikawa prefecture.
A large-scale fire broke out around the famous tourist spot Wajima morning market, engulfing approximately 200 buildings.
As more damage reports and information about people trapped continued to come in regarding other municipalities, injuries were reported in Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, and Gifu prefectures due to collapsed or damaged buildings.
Calling the rescue of those impacted by the earthquakes a battle against time, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that the government has already dispatched a number of self-defence force troops to the impacted areas and will continue to provide assistance.
A series of strong earthquakes, with major ones of up to a preliminary 7.6 magnitude, hit on Monday at a shallow depth on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency has officially named it the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
Since Monday, Japan has been hit by at least 155 quakes. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
