Jan 01 (NHK) - Reports of injuries and damage brought about by the massive quake on the Sea of Japan coast continue to come in. A major tsunami warning has been issued for the prefecture.
NHK has learned from fire departments and hospitals that, as of 7 p.m., multiple people were injured in Ishikawa, Niigata and Fukui prefectures. Reports say they had been hit by items falling on them or had suffered broken bones.
In the cities of Wajima and Suzu in Ishikawa, fire department officials say they have received at least 30 reports that houses have collapsed. They are also responding to calls about people being trapped under the damaged buildings.
Officials are trying to grasp the extent of the damage and carry out rescue operations. But the full extent of the disaster remains unclear.
A fire has also broken out in the center of Wajima. Firefighters are trying to extinguish it and confirm if there are any casualties.
Meanwhile, police in the city of Himi in Toyama Prefecture say that they had received reports of cracks in roads at several locations as of 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
Also in Toyama Prefecture, an official in Oyabe said there were several reports of broken water pipes.
In the area where tsunami warnings are issued, residents are evacuating to higher ground and elsewhere.
Officials in Nomi in Ishikawa say about 100 people took refuge in the city hall as of 5:30 p.m.
Japan's Defense Ministry says about 1,000 residents are taking shelter at an Air Self-Defense Force facility the city of Wajima. SDF members are handing out water, blankets and food to evacuees.
In Yamagata Prefecture, about 2,000 people have been evacuated to facilities such as local city offices.
Source: TBS NEWS
