Catastrophic extent of damage revealed in Japanese earthquake
In the early hours of Sunday, March 12, 2023, a magnitude-6.7 earthquake hit central Japan, causing widespread destruction, particularly in the mountains and sparsely populated areas. The epicentre of the quake was west of Nagano city, at a depth of 5 kilometers (3 miles).
Footage from Japanese television shows buildings in various states of collapse, with some flattened and others leaning to one side. A landslide spilled onto a railroad track, forcing service to halt, and deep cracks were observed in the roads.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 6.2 for the earthquake, while the Japan Meteorological Agency later revised the magnitude and depth of the earthquake from initial estimates. Despite the extensive damage, there haven't been any reported deaths, according to Shigeharu Fujimori, a Nagano prefecture disaster management official.
The hardest-hit area appears to be Hakuba, which hosted events in the 1998 winter games. At least 50 homes were destroyed, and more than 20 people were trapped under collapsed houses but were later rescued. About 200 people from Hakuba and Otari had evacuated to shelters.
Ryo Nishino, a restaurant owner in Hakuba, described the earthquake as the hardest he had ever experienced. "It was a terrifying experience," he said. "The ground was shaking violently, and I could hear the sound of buildings collapsing."
The search results do not provide information about which locality in Nagano Prefecture, that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics, was most affected by the earthquake. However, it is known that at least 43 homes were destroyed in Hakuba, and at least 50 homes were destroyed in two villages as a result of the earthquake.
Chubu Electric Power Co. reported that 200 homes remained without power on Sunday. Meteorological Agency official Yohei Hasegawa urged residents to watch out for landslides, as the quake has been followed by more than 60 aftershocks.
Shinkansen bullet train service in the region was restored after a short interruption, and no abnormalities were reported at three nuclear power plants in the affected areas.
Across the region, 41 people were injured, including seven seriously, mostly with broken bones. Japanese television showed police going house to house Sunday morning, calling out to make sure that inhabitants were accounted for.
The earthquake has proven to be more extensive than initially thought, and the authorities are working tirelessly to assess the damage and provide assistance to those affected.
