Japan Earthquake: Malaysian Resident’s Account of Tremors Similar to 2011 Tsunami
Source: Awani
The tremors felt in Echizen city, Fukui prefecture, following the recent earthquake in western Japan are almost reminiscent of the tremors experienced during the significant tsunami in 2011. This shared experience comes from Mohd Syairir Abd Malek, a Malaysian resident who personally experienced an earthquake in the coastal city 12 years ago and once again today.
Serving as a Senior International Relations Management Officer in Echizen, he mentioned that the tremors today lasted quite a while, around 20 to 30 seconds.
As a result, he reported that tsunami warning sirens were sounded, prompting residents in the area to move to higher and safer locations. Regarding their preparedness, he expressed confidence in managing it unless there’s another major earthquake. He mentioned that many officials are currently heading to community centers to ensure everyone’s safety.
He voiced concerns about the possibility of another earthquake, especially late at night when people are tired and hungry, which could complicate efforts to ensure the safety of all Echizen residents.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a strong earthquake measuring 7.5 magnitude struck the Noto region in Ishikawa at 4:10 PM local time. Noto is approximately 200 kilometers from Echizen. Meanwhile, Japan’s weather agency reported 21 consecutive earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.0 striking the central region of the country within a 90-minute period.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) stated that a tsunami wave of 1.2 meters hit the Wajima port in Ishikawa at 4:21 PM local time.
In response, Japan issued a high-level tsunami warning for Ishikawa and a low-level warning for the entire northwest coast of Honshu Island. Commenting further, Mohd Syairir noted that local news agencies reported the suspension of all train services in the area, but roads in Fukui remain open and usable. Despite tsunami warnings for coastal areas, he mentioned that there hasn’t been any announcement urging residents in the area to evacuate quickly..
