Earthquake | Strong earthquake hits Japan, one killed, more than 20 injured

File Pic Tokyo: A strong earthquake struck central Japan on Friday afternoon, killing at least one person and injuring more than 20. The US Geological Survey said a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture, off the west coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the quake’s magnitude at 6.5 and said it was centered at a depth of about 12 kilometers. More than 50 aftershocks have been felt since the quake, including a 5.8-magnitude quake on Friday night. The city of Suzu, located at the northern tip of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, reported the most casualties and damage. There, one person died after falling off a ladder, and 22 others were reported injured in the province, two of them seriously and the rest with minor injuries. About 100 residents took shelter in shelters on Friday night, according to the province’s disaster management department. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, one person was reported injured in the neighboring prefecture of Toyama. During this many houses were also damaged. There is also a forecast of rain on Saturday evening. A video broadcast by public broadcaster NHK showed part of a mountain range collapsing on a house. Another video broadcast by television showed a room shaking for about half a minute. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who returned from a trip to Africa and Singapore on Friday night, expressed condolences to quake victims and urged residents to “be careful” about possible aftershocks. Bullet trains linking Tokyo and Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture were temporarily halted for safety checks, but resumed normal operations with some delays, East Japan Railway Co. said. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, there was no disturbance at the nuclear power plants in the area. (agency)