Breaking News: Major Earthquake Strikes Japan
Multiple Casualties Reported, Buildings Collapsed
Magnitude 7.8 quake shakes northern Japan, triggering tsunami warnings
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 has struck northern Japan, causing widespread damage and multiple casualties. The epicenter of the quake was located off the eastern coast of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific coast of Japan, including Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Kanto regions. Residents in these areas are advised to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
Television footage showed buildings collapsing and cars overturning as the quake struck. Firefighters and rescue workers have been dispatched to the affected areas to search for survivors and extinguish fires.
Initial reports indicate that there have been multiple casualties, but the exact number is still unknown. Hospitals and medical facilities in the affected areas are overwhelmed with injured patients.
The earthquake also triggered power outages in several areas, leaving tens of thousands of households without electricity. Transportation services have been disrupted, with trains and flights suspended due to damage to infrastructure.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but it is expected to be significant. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called an emergency meeting to discuss the government's response to the disaster.
International aid organizations are mobilizing to provide assistance to the affected areas. Japan is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped zone of volcanic and seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean.
This is a developing story, and more updates will be provided as they become available.
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