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Quake alert system 'a success'
26/03/2007 17:19 - (SA)
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| One of the roads damaged in the earthquake at Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture. (Yomiuri Shimbun and Michihiro Kawamura, AP) |
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Carl Freire
Wajima - Authorities hailed Japan's new earthquake alert system as a success on Monday after it allowed officials to issue a tsunami warning just one minute after a magnitude-6.9 quake jolted the country's coast a day earlier.
The quake early on Sunday killed one person and injured 214 others.
But officials said the one-minute warning provided a potentially lifesaving edge over the three minutes required by the country's older alert system.
Strong aftershocks shook the region on Monday, and authorities in the town of Wajima near the epicentre said a lack of safe drinking water had become a top concern.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised to expedite aid.
He said: "There has been great damage. The government will provide whatever aid the regions need."
No tsunami danger
Strong aftershocks measuring magnitude-5.3 and magnitude-4.8 struck on Monday, but there was no tsunami danger, said Japan's meteorological agency. The agency said aftershocks could continue for a week.
The earthquake toppled buildings, triggered landslides, cut electricity, snapped water mains and disrupted transportation throughout the region.
It also triggered a small tsunami about 15cm tall that hit shore 36 minutes later.
Though the wave did not cause any damage, authorities were able to give an early warning because of a more sensitive earthquake detection system that Japan has been using since last October.
The new system can detect slight tremors that travel underground ahead of a larger quake, said meteorological agency official Yosuke Igarashi.
'Able to alert in a minute'
Sunday's quake was the first time the system had been used to issue a tsunami warning.
Igarashi said: "Before the new system went into effect, it took about three minutes to get out a tsunami alert. On Sunday, we were able to get the alert out within a minute, so I'd say it was a success."
The meteorological agency expects the new system will reduce earthquake injuries and damage by allowing authorities to quickly shut down elevators and trains and rapidly evacuate factories, offices and other buildings.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a parliamentary committee on Monday the quake had knocked down at least 68 homes and partially destroyed another 164.
A 52-year-old woman was crushed to death by a falling stone lantern and at least 214 other people were injured, said officials.
The fire and disaster management agency said most of the injuries and damage occurred in Wajima, about 310km northwest of Tokyo.
Water 'in short supply'
More than 4 000 households were without water, and damage to roads made it difficult to truck in supplies, city official Kazuharu Kaji told public broadcaster NHK.
Kaji said: "Water is in extremely short supply.
"In particular, there are dialysis patients and others at local hospitals who may not be able to receive treatment because of the shortage."
The affected area had not suffered a major quake since 1933.
- AP
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