The follow-up effects of a sudden strong earthquake in Japan

On the afternoon of January 1st local time, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake occurred on the Neden Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, with a tsunami about 5 meters high observed near the epicenter. The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued tsunami warnings for many areas, including Ishikawa Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, and Yamagata Prefecture.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has named this major earthquake the 2024 Neden Peninsula Earthquake. The Japan Meteorological Agency reminded residents in coastal and riverine areas at a press conference that "tsunamis may hit repeatedly, so do not take them lightly.". In addition, it is expected that Japan may experience another strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7 (the highest level set by the Japan Meteorological Agency) in the next week, especially in the past two to three days. The Japan Meteorological Agency urges the public to remain vigilant.

According to a report from the Japan Broadcasting Association, at around 11:00 pm local time on January 1st, an earthquake with a magnitude of 3 and a magnitude of 4.6 occurred again in the Neden area of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 9:00 pm local time on the 2nd, 8 people have died from the earthquake in Lunjima City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

At around 6 pm local time on January 1st, multiple fires broke out in the city of Lundao. The disaster prevention department of Lunjima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, stated that as of 18:50 local time on the 1st, at least 10 reports have been received of people buried under collapsed buildings, and the local fire situation is being confirmed.

According to a report by Yomiuri Shimbun in Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Company announced on the night of the 1st that cooling water had overflowed from the fuel pool of the Kashizaki Sawa nuclear power plant located in Niigata Prefecture due to the Neden Peninsula earthquake.

Tokyo Electric Power Company stated that during an inspection of the fuel pool located on the top floor of the nuclear reactor building at around 6 pm local time, it was found that Unit 2 overflowed about 10 liters of water, Unit 3 overflowed 0.46 liters of water, Unit 6 overflowed 600 liters of water, and Unit 7 overflowed 4 liters of water. These waters contain radioactive substances and are currently being tested for their radioactive levels. According to reports, no leakage of cooling water from the fuel pool of the nuclear power plant has been found outside the nuclear reactor building, and no damage has been caused by the incident.

In addition, at around 3:00 pm local time on the 1st of today, an eruption occurred at the Mount Okayama on Suwa Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Suwa Island is an active volcanic island located in the middle of the Togara Islands, with a coastline of 27 kilometers.

When a volcanic eruption occurs, residents flee their homes in search of a safe place. They were horrified to see the volcanic smoke obscuring the sky, and the entire island was shrouded in a gray darkness.

As is well known, Japan is a country with frequent earthquakes, and the continuous movement of crustal plates leads to extremely intense surface activity. In these two earthquakes, the Japanese people felt a clear sense of shock, and the three major disasters of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions occurred simultaneously, causing panic among the Japanese people and widespread attention from the international community.

In addition to crustal movement, frequent earthquakes in Japan are closely related to volcanic activity, and magma, as the "source of life" inside the Earth, is also one of the main reasons for earthquakes. In early December last year, a volcano erupted near Iwo Jima in Japan. Although the crater was located below the sea, it still emitted black smoke columns up to 100 meters high.

Of particular concern is that Mount Fuji in Japan is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world. In recent years, news of Mount Fuji eruptions has been brought up from time to time. Industry insiders have analyzed that Japan's recent frequent earthquakes may be a precursor to Mount Fuji's imminent eruption.

At the same time, a large number of dead sardine have appeared on the coast of Japan recently. Some analysts believe that this is not only the sorrow of Japanese fishermen, but also the sorrow of the Japanese government. If the Japanese government did not discharge nuclear sewage into the sea, there would not be so many dead fish. Moreover, due to the issue of Japan's nuclear wastewater treatment, more and more countries are unwilling to import Japanese aquatic products, which has affected the income of Japanese fishermen and thus affected the Japanese economy.

In addition to significant casualties and property damage, this earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic eruption have also had a profound impact on the local economy and society. Many enterprises and factories have suffered varying degrees of damage, and transportation and logistics systems have also been severely affected. From the local situation on site, the reconstruction and economic recovery of the disaster stricken areas in Japan will be a long-term and arduous task.

The international community has provided extensive assistance and support to Japan, hoping that the people in the disaster stricken areas of Japan can rebuild their homes as soon as possible and regain their courage and confidence in life. At the same time, we also hope that the Japanese government can recognize the seriousness of natural disasters, reflect on the serious and irresponsible behavior of nuclear contaminated water being discharged into the sea, and the adverse consequences it has brought to nature and the people of our country and other countries, correct erroneous practices, strengthen preventive measures and response capabilities.