Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Following a major earthquake in northern Japan on Friday afternoon, the Japan Meteorological Agency says there is a risk of another earthquake occurring with a maximum seismic intensity of 6+ (9 on a scale of 10) within the next week or so.  

The Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture was hit by a 6+ earthquake on Friday that registered 6.3 on the Richter Scale and led to one death and considerable damage. The area has been hit by many aftershocks – 50 within 24 hours – including one that had a seismic intensity of 5+ (7 on a scale of 10).

The Japan Meteorological Agency held a press conference in response to the quake and called for continued caution in areas where the tremors were strong because the risk of buildings collapsing and the danger of landslides is high at the moment as the area is expecting very heavy rain in the next couple of days.

Ishikawa Prefectural Governor HASE Hiroshi visited Suzu City on the morning of May 6 and received an overview of the damage from Mayor IZUMIYA Masuhiro at City Hall. He then inspected the Seiin district of Seiin-cho, which suffered damage, including collapsed houses.

With strong seismic activity continuing in the Noto region,where there are some collapsed houses and the partially collapsed tourist attraction of facilities on Mitsukejima Island, the Japan Meteorological Agency, says the ground is likely to subside or collapse more easily in areas where the tremors were stronger, increasing the risk of landslide disasters.