The death toll caused by the powerful earthquake that shook Japan yesterday has risen to 48. This was announced by the local authorities.
"Very significant damage, numerous casualties, collapsed buildings and fires have been confirmed," Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said this morning. "We have to race against time" to save lives, he added. More than 200 buildings have been destroyed or severely damaged by flames in the city of Wajima as a result of the fires that broke out due to the earthquake, according to the fire department.
Another quake of magnitude 5.6 was recorded today at 10:37 a.m. local time (2:17 a.m. in Italy) in Japan's central-western prefecture Ishikawa, hit yesterday by the violent earthquake with a magnitude greater than 7: this was announced by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). According to Japan's meteorological agency JMA, central Japan was hit by at least 155 earthquakes between yesterday afternoon and this morning. Meanwhile, the JMA has officially lifted the risk of a tsunami.
Japan's Imperial Household Agency has canceled the traditional New Year's greeting scheduled for Tuesday, which was scheduled to be attended by Emperor Naruhito and members of the royal family, following the tragic earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture and surrounding areas. "On the recommendation of the sovereign himself and Empress Masako, the agency has decided not to proceed with the event in Tokyo in view of the damage caused by the earthquake to the many people," a statement said. During the traditional New Year's Eve event, members of the imperial family from the balcony of the residence usually greet their subjects who gather in the gardens of the park, in the center of the capital.
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