In a video footage by TVBS, residents rescued a child from a partially collapsed building in Hualien, Taiwan. The earthquake struck during the morning rush hour, causing building collapses and triggering tsunami warnings in Japan and the Philippines. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude of 7.4, making it the strongest quake since 1999. Strong shaking was felt in Taipei, about 100 miles away, with aftershocks lasting for two hours. Reports indicated that people in Shanghai, 500 miles to the north, could also feel the quake.

Extent of Damage and Response

Images showed extensive damage in Hualien, with buildings leaning and off their foundations. Work and school were suspended, and eight power plants were shut down for safety. TSMC, a leading microchip maker, evacuated production lines. Train and subway services were suspended island-wide, and videos from the epicenter revealed rockslides and houses knocked off-kilter. A tsunami warning in Japan was later lifted, with waves detected on the coast of Yonaguni island.

Regional Impact and Historical Context

The earthquake’s impact extended to southern Japanese islands and the Philippines. The last major quake in Taiwan was the 1999 “Jiji” earthquake, which caused significant destruction and casualties. Residents in coastal areas were advised to move to higher ground or inland. The earthquake serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity.

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San Jose: Search and rescue workers are checking a car trapped in flooding after heavy rain caused the Guadalupe River to overflow its banks on Sunday. A second atmospheric river has battered California, resulting in flooded roadways, power outages, and a rare warning for hurricane-force winds. The state is preparing for days of heavy rains, with forecasters predicting 8 to 15 inches of rain in the mountains and foothills of Southern California, and 4 to 8 inches in lower-lying areas. Flash flood warnings have been issued, along with concerns about possible debris flows. Evacuation orders have been given to high-risk neighborhoods in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties, particularly those near canyons, rivers, or streams. The National Weather Service is advising people to stay home and off the roads until at least Monday morning, as the rain may continue through Tuesday.

Conditions Across the State

Santa Barbara: A boat moored offshore is being tossed by rough waters as the second, more powerful atmospheric river storm arrives on Sunday. The West Coast is experiencing heavy rainfall as the first of two powerful storms moves in, part of a “Pineapple Express” weather pattern that is causing road washouts and flood warnings.

Pebble Beach: Fallen trees and power lines are blocking a road on Sunday.

Alameda: Waves are crashing over a breakwater with the San Francisco skyline in the background on Sunday. The region is being impacted by high winds and heavy rainfall.

Los Angeles: A man is walking his dog on the edge of the Los Angeles River, carrying stormwater downstream on Sunday.

San Jose: Search and rescue workers are evacuating men from a homeless encampment that has become surrounded by floodwater from the Guadalupe River on Sunday. Workers are also clearing a tree that fell onto a home during heavy wind and rain.

Santa Barbara: A person is walking along a flooded street as a powerful long-duration atmospheric river storm, the second in less than a week, impacts California on Sunday.

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WAJIMA, Japan – A series of powerful earthquakes struck western Japan, resulting in the death of at least 48 people and causing extensive damage to buildings, vehicles, and boats. Officials are warning residents in some areas to stay away from their homes due to the risk of further strong quakes.

Aftershocks Continue to Shake Ishikawa Prefecture

A magnitude 7.6 temblor hit Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas on Monday afternoon, with aftershocks continuing to shake the region. Thirty people have been confirmed dead in Ishikawa, while fourteen others are seriously injured. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed, according to Japanese media reports.

Scenes from the M7.5 earthquake that hit central Japan on January 1, 2024pic.twitter.com/AvuhhUfj6h

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 3, 2024

Rescue Efforts and Damage Assessment

Japan’s military has dispatched 1,000 soldiers to assist in rescue efforts. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the importance of saving lives and stated that it is critical to rescue those trapped in homes immediately. Damage to homes is so extensive that it cannot be immediately assessed.

Infrastructure and Services Disrupted

Water, power, and cellphone service remain down in some areas. Residents are expressing sorrow over their destroyed homes and uncertain futures. Highways have been closed, and bullet train services were halted but mostly restored by Tuesday afternoon. Weather forecasters are predicting rain, raising concerns about the stability of already crumbling buildings and infrastructure.

Japan’s Vulnerability to Earthquakes

Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes due to its location along the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. The country has experienced about a hundred aftershocks in the last day alone.

U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed readiness to provide any necessary assistance to the Japanese people.

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Patients at Manuel J. Santos Hospital in Butuan City, southern Philippines, were evacuated on Saturday evening, Dec. 2, 2023, following a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6. The earthquake struck off the southern Philippine coast, causing panic among villagers who fled their homes after a tsunami warning was issued by Philippine authorities.

Details of the Earthquake

The earthquake occurred at 10:37 p.m. at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties. Initially, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center predicted that tsunami waves would hit the southern Philippines, as well as parts of Indonesia, Palau, and Malaysia. However, the center later canceled its tsunami warning.

Evacuation and Safety Measures

Teresito Bacolcol, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, advised residents along the coast of southern Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces to evacuate immediately to higher ground or move farther inland. The agency also recommended that boat owners in harbors, estuaries, or shallow coastal waters secure their boats and move away from the waterfront. Boats already at sea were advised to stay offshore in deep waters until further notice.

Based on the magnitude of the earthquake, Bacolcol estimated that a 1-meter (3.2-foot) tsunami could potentially hit, with the wave possibly being higher in enclosed coves, bays, and straits. Villagers in Hinatuan town and surrounding areas in Surigao del Sur province were seen fleeing their homes to safety, as shown in pictures posted on the Hinatuan government’s Facebook account.

Continued Monitoring and Philippines’ Vulnerability

As of the time of reporting, there were no reports of a tsunami hitting the coast. However, authorities continued to monitor the situation. The Philippines, being located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Additionally, the archipelago experiences approximately 20 typhoons and storms each year, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

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