Following the significant earthquake in Japan on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday, expressing condolences to the families of the deceased. According to sources, PM Modi conveyed his deep anguish and concern about the major earthquake that struck Japan on January 1, 2024.
PM Modi expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and conveyed solidarity with Japan and its people affected by the disaster. Highlighting the special strategic and global partnership between India and Japan, PM Modi assured that India is ready to provide all possible assistance at this critical time.
The earthquake, measuring 7.5 magnitude, struck the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas in central Japan on Monday, resulting in at least 64 casualties, as reported by Kyodo News. Search and rescue operations are hindered by rubble and severed roads in the affected regions.
Structural damage and fires have been reported in Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture, but the full extent of the disaster caused by the powerful earthquake is yet to be determined. The northern area of the remote Noto Peninsula faced restricted access for over 24 hours, with the Meteorological Agency of Japan canceling tsunami advisories along parts of the country’s western coast on Tuesday.
Following a disaster emergency meeting, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida informed the media that the affected location was inaccessible due to a damaged road. Fire department officials reported that 25 buildings, including houses, collapsed in Wajima City. Firefighters are engaged in ongoing rescue operations, and approximately 200 buildings, including shops and houses, are believed to have been affected around Asaichi Street, a popular tourist spot.
The earthquake, recorded by the United States Geological Survey, occurred on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture around 4:10 pm (local time), at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles).