Magnitude and Impact: A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Japan's west coast, causing extensive damage to buildings and major roads.

Image credits: social media

Casualties and Evacuations: At least a dozen people lost their lives, prompting the Japanese government to order over 97,000 evacuations, utilizing sports halls and school gymnasiums as emergency shelters.

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Tsunami Threat: Coastal areas faced tsunami waves around 1 meter (3.3 ft) high, leading residents to flee to higher ground for safety.

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Global Response: Global Affairs Canada reported no impact on Canadian citizens, while President Joe Biden expressed the United States' readiness to provide assistance and support to Japan.

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Rescue Challenges: Rescue efforts by thousands of army personnel, firefighters, and police officers were hindered by badly damaged and blocked roads, posing challenges to reaching affected areas.

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Infrastructure Damage: Buildings and critical infrastructure, including roads and airports, suffered widespread damage, hampering both rescue and relief operations.

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Personal Accounts: Residents described the intense experience, with homes sustaining damage, and miraculous escapes reported during New Year celebrations.

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Ongoing Tremors: The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of more strong aftershocks in the coming days, with over 140 tremors detected since the initial earthquake.

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Nuclear Industry Status: The earthquake's impact on Japan's nuclear industry was a concern, but the Nuclear Regulation Authority reported no irregularities at nuclear plants along the Sea of Japan.

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Government Response: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the urgency of the search and rescue mission, acknowledging the battle against time and the difficulties faced in reaching the affected areas.

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