At least 55 people have died following a series of powerful earthquakes that struck western Japan, causing extensive damage to buildings, vehicles, and boats, Associated Press reports.
An initial magnitude 7.6 quake hit Ishikawa prefecture was followed by numerous aftershocks. The damage was extensive, with tens of thousands of homes destroyed and infrastructure like water, power, and cell phone services disrupted in some areas.
The Japanese military mobilized 1,000 soldiers for rescue efforts and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the priority of saving lives. Tsunami warnings were initially issued but later downgraded, and while some nuclear plants in the region remained operational, concerns lingered due to past incidents in 2011.
