Japan Earthquake: Japanese rescuers are urgently scouring rubble for survivors on Wednesday, as authorities cautioned of landslides and heavy rains after a devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake killed over 60 people.The powerful January 1 tremor centred in Ishikawa prefecture wrecked hundreds of buildings, sparked fires and severed roads on Honshu island.What are causalities of Japans earthquakeThe Noto peninsula was worst affected, with numerous homes flattened. By late Tuesday, officials confirmed 62 dead and 22 seriously injured, with over 31,800 in shelters.The toll is expected to increase as teams battle aftershocks and harsh weather to search crumbled structures. Its a race against time to save people potentially trapped, said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.Landslide alert in regions The urgency grew as the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy rain warning for Noto, heightening risks of landslides till evening.In the coastal town of Suzu, 90% of houses were destroyed or damaged, Mayor Masuhiro Izumiya stated. The situation is really catastrophic, he said.A shelter resident in Shika City told TV Asahi aftershocks left her sleepless and fearful. Nearly 34,000 households still lacked power in Ishikawa. Many areas had no running water.Bullet trains and highways resumed operations after stranding thousands. The USGS measured the quake at 7.5 magnitude, while Japan rated it 7.6, triggering major tsunami warnings.How many aftershocks reported in Japan since January 1 quakeOver 210 aftershocks shook the region through Tuesday night, officials said. Japan lifted tsunami alerts after waves exceeding 1.2 meters hit Wajima city and smaller tsunamis occurred elsewhere.Though large quakes are common, Ishikawa has seen a steady increase since 2018, per a government report.The disaster evoked the 2011 quake-tsunami that killed 18,500 people and caused nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima.As the search continues, authorities are preparing relief measures for survivors. The powerful New Years Day quake serves as a sobering reminder of Japans vulnerability to seismic events.
