A 5.3 magnitude earthquake shook the Ishikawa prefecture (Japan) this Saturday, while search efforts continue in the same area due to the strong earthquake last Monday. The death toll from the earthquake that hit central Japan last Monday has risen to 110, while the search continues for another 211 people still missing, tasks made difficult by the damage to infrastructure and the rain and snowfall expected in the zone.
The new earthquake took place at 5:26 local time this Saturday (20:26 GMT on Friday) with an epicenter about 10 kilometers deep on the Noto peninsula, in the aforementioned prefecture of central Japan, according to data from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
After last Monday's 7.6 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in this same area, the JMA has detected more than 1,030 tremors in the area with an intensity of at least 1 on the closed 7-level Japanese scale, which focuses on power destructive nature of the tremor, and has warned of the risk of aftershocks of equal or greater intensity than the devastating earthquake.
Local authorities have not reported for now any new damage caused by this Saturday's earthquake, which reached the high level 5 on the Japanese scale, nor any additional interruptions to rail or road transport networks.
Numerous infrastructures of this type continue to be damaged since last Monday's earthquake, which is making it difficult to search and rescue the missing, as well as repair damaged roads and buildings or transport supplies for people affected by the disaster.
So far, 98 people have been confirmed dead due to the earthquake, according to data compiled by the state broadcaster NHK, while it is estimated that around 240 people are still missing.
It is feared that search and rescue tasks will be hampered by the heavy rains expected in Ishikawa prefecture between Saturday and Sunday, up to 30 millimeters, according to JMA forecasts.
Some 32,000 people were evacuated on Monday in Ishikawa, Toyama prefectures and other nearby areas, while local air and train services were suspended. The number of homes without electricity, mainly in Ishikawa, was put in the tens of thousands. Fortunately, the rises in sea level detected in different Japanese locations, and even in neighboring South Korea, did not cause significant damage.
