A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck western Japan on Monday, disrupting communications, closing roads and destroying a number of buildings.
More than 80 earthquakes were recorded in Japan today, according to data from the country’s meteorological agency. The tremors continue from 7:10 a.m. and are measured between 7.6 and 3 degrees.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said at least five highways were closed.
At least 30 buildings have so far collapsed in Ishikawa, the local fire department in the city of Wajima said. Six people were reportedly trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Ishikawa Prefecture.
There are no confirmed deaths yet, but the situation is unclear.
At Noto airport, two flights were canceled due to cracks in the runway. Yoshimasa added that as many as 33,000 households could be affected by the power outage.
Japan lowered its “major tsunami warning”, which indicated the risk of waves of 3 meters or more, for the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa. Instead, a less severe “tsunami warning” was issued for the area.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says authorities are working to assess possible damage after the earthquake.
