Umberto Bacchi
A second major earthquake has hit southern Japan barely 24 hours
after the powerful tremor that killed nine people in the region.
Authorities
have issued a tsunami alert, warning of a possible 1-metre wave along
the coast in the Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu Island.
The quake, which was initially rated at 7.4 but later downgraded and
then upgraded again,struck at 1.25am local time on 16 April and was
centred near Kumamoto city.
Its epicentre was at a depth of of 40 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.
The death toll currently stands at one, however 23 people
are reportedly trapped under rubble. The figures are expected to rise
and the United States Geological Service (USGS) said that, based upon
their analysis, there was a 56% chance of anything between 1,000 and
10,000 fatalities.
NHK reported that there are now fears that a nearby dam
could collapse, forcing the evacuation of residents in the surrounding
area. Hundreds of patients have already been evacuated from a hospital
in Kumamoto over concerns it could collapse. There are numerous reports
of people being trapped inside buildings including 70 elderly men and
women in an old people's home. Aftershocks have been felt through the
night and as morning breaks, the extent of the damage is now becoming
clear.
A day earlier, the
area was rattled by magnitude 6.5 earthquake that caused numerous
buildings to collapse, injuring some 860 people.
It was followed by more than 130 aftershocks before the second, more powerful tremor struck.
Tsunami alert as Japan struck by second major earthquake in 24 hours
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