Mashable: New Year’s Day in Japan turned into chaos as the country was hit with a series of earthquakes on Monday, January 1, 2024.

Authorities reveal that at least 48 people were killed after 155 earthquakes struck central Japan on New Year’s Day.

The series of earthquakes terrified the world as they not only resulted in death but also triggered tsunami waves over a meter high. The earthquakes injured dozens and sparked fires that wreaked destruction overnight and damaged homes.

Among the series of quakes on Monday, the largest earthquake struck on the west coast of Japan’s main island. It was reportedly of magnitude 7.6 at a shallow depth of 10 km and shook buildings around 300km away in Tokyo.

According to The Guardian, over one thousand army personnel have been dispatched to the worst-hit area in Japan’s relatively remote Noto peninsula. However, the rescue operations have been hampered by badly damaged and blocked roads. Airports in one of the areas have been forced to close due to cracks in the runway.

The scale of destruction caused by the deadly earthquakes is still emerging as several videos show sunken boats at a port, destructed buildings, locals living without electricity amid freezing temperatures, charred homes, and more.

An entire bridge detaching from the road.
It happened today at 16:10 local time after an M7.4 earthquake hit the prefectures of Ishikawa, Niigata and Toyama in Central Japan#Tsunami #地震　#緊急地震速報　#津波の映像　#避難　#最大震度7 #earthquake #japanearthquake #Japan pic.twitter.com/4slcMjxMQ6

— Washhal bugti (@Washhal21) January 1, 2024

On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, an Earthquake with an intensity of upper 5 on Japan’s earthquake scale reportedly struck Ishikawa.

Meanwhile, a meteorological agency official reportedly said that all the tsunami warnings and advisories that were imposed after the earthquakes were lifted. The Japan Meteorological Agency has also warned more strong shocks could hit the country in the coming days.