Japan's New Year Quake: 2 Major Quakes on 1st Day of 2024

Photo byUnited States Geological Survey’s

Weak shaking was felt throughout Southern California on Monday due to an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 that struck 17 miles off the coast of Los Angeles County.

According to earthquake detecting devices and locals reporting their experiences to the U.S. Geological Survey's Did You Feel It? website, the tremor was felt throughout the coast lines of Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Photo byKyodo News via AP

Japan lifted its highest-level tsunami alert, which had been in place since Monday after several significant earthquakes, but warned coastal residents not to go back to their homes because dangerous waves might still strike.

A quick sequence of earthquakes, about 20, struck the Noto region on the western side of Japan's main island, Honshu, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The series of earthquakes began at 4:06 p.m. local time and had a magnitude of 5.7. Four minutes later, there was a significant 7.6-magnitude earthquake, which was followed by 6.1-magnitude, 4.5-magnitude, 4.6-magnitude, 4.8-magnitude, and a 6.1-magnitude tremor at 4:18 p.m.

Photo byKyodo News via AP

On the west coast of Honshu, the main island of Japan, the greatest of the earthquakes, measuring 7.6 in magnitude, caused a structure to collapse and started a fire. How many people might have been injured or killed was unknown.

Long-term statistical data (dating back to roughly 1900) indicates that we are likely to experience approximately 16 major earthquakes a year. Having 2 major earthquakes on the first day of the year is somewhat of a phenomenon.

Sources:

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-01/earthquake-4-1-quake-shakes-near-rancho-palos-verdes

https://apnews.com/article/japan-earthquake-tsunami-bfb94b14333379491953f7eb58c4e466

https://earthquaketrack.com/

https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/why-are-we-having-so-many-earthquakes-has-naturally-occurring-earthquake-activity-been#:~:text=According%20to%20long%2Dterm%20records,earthquake%20magnitude%208.0%20or%20greater

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-earthquake-tsunami-warning-2024-new-years-day/