24 confirmed dead in Noto quake as more damage reports come in

May those who have died rest in peace and those left behind find solace.

My thoughts and prayers.

I am heartened at all the majority positive comments from people online. A far, far cry from how it was after the 3/11 quake and tsunami.

Very tough start for New Year's Day. Extensive damage.

Certainly it is a relief not to have seen the high waves that were predicted.The highest seems to have been 1.2 meters.

See massive waves after earthquake hits Japan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAjN3xX1M-w

Its the shaking, truly unnerving.

During New Years celebrations.

CNN have a live feed...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vAgOxDJzgY

Please stay safe and warm.

I experienced the one in 2011 as a foreign single mom of an infant and it was a real hurdle finding water for my baby at the time and other daily necessities. Having walked in the shoes of these people in Ishikawa, it is going to be a real struggle and hardship for some time and my deepest prayers are with them during what is absolutely going to be a very trying time.

For those who lost their lives my condolences to their families for their loss.

Luckily no devastating tsunami. My thoughts and prayers to all those affected.

Why are people still cooking and heating with gas in earthquake zone

What a way to start the new year! Hope everyone is OK and my condolences to those deprived of their loved ones.

"Thoughts and prayers" is said by someone that has merely a passing thought of the event like everyone else, and has no actual intention to do any praying whatsoever.

Why are people still cooking and heating with gas in earthquake zone.

Because they are most likely cooking with propane provided by a propane tank next to their house. Actually much safer and reliable than having gas provided by a gas line that can shut off or break in an emergency. Many houses in Japan are like what Americans would call "mobile homes" in American trailer parks. Propane gas and poor insulation.

7.6 is a strong quake. The Kobe quake was a 6.9, so this was had 5 times more power.

I hope they extinguish the fires soon. They look terrible in Wajima city. It was fires that caused to most damage during the Kobe quake.

Why are people still cooking and heating with gas in earthquake zone

What are they supposed to use, electricity? Yeah right, that cuts off and then what?

Why are people still cooking and heating with gas in earthquake zone.

By earthquake zone you mean all of Japan, right?

Many houses in Japan are like what Americans would call "mobile homes" in American trailer parks. Propane gas and poor insulation.

Hell no! There is no comparison between the two! Just because a house here may not be properly insulated would not even come close to comparing it to a "mobile home".

I live in a steel reinforced, poured concrete and concrete block home, it cost nearly ￥30,000,000 to build, dad-in-law built it, no freaking insulation, but it's NOTHING like a mobile home and no one in their right mind would make the comparison either.

Next time I would suggest trying to find a better comparison. Mobile homes are more comparable to Mongolian Yurts than Japanese tateuri jutaku!

So sorry for the victims..

People, be warm and safe..

Keep strong Japan..

God bless Japan..

Yrral

Why are people still cooking and heating with gas in earthquake zone

The electricity supply to most homes is 100 volts, 60 amps, or 100 amps. Not enough to have an all-electric kitchen.

Prayers for the effected. I live in Korea now about two years in to it. But lived in Japan 27 years. It pains my heart so much to see this and the obvious suffering that follows . The great thing about Japan. Japanese emergency service's thou. They work aggressively and quickly to recover what they can, who they can and do it 365/24/7 tirelessly until everything and everyone is recovered. Prayers sent Japan. Fighto!

Why are people still cooking and heating with gas in earthquake zone

They are using LPG, which is cleaner and cheaper to use. The combustion of LPG, as a low-carbon fossil fuel, has almost no harmful effects on the environment or on human health. LPG thus offers the benefit of a better option for the environment than many other energy solutions.

Many houses in Japan are like what Americans would call "mobile homes" in American trailer parks.

And there are 1 million homeless Americans who wish they can live in trailer parks, since right now their living in their own Shi#.

The electricity supply to most homes is 100 volts, 60 amps, or 100 amps. Not enough to have an all-electric kitchen.

Not true. I'm running 2 Miele ovens, warming drawer, IH cooktop and a western style dishwasher. 200v is supplied to most houses in Japan (2 legs of 100v - similar to USA) which makes it easier even over a 60 amp supply.

The electricity supply to most homes is 100 volts, 60 amps, or 100 amps. Not enough to have an all-electric kitchen.

There are literally millions of people in this country that will disagree with you! All "denka" including an "eco-cute" hot water heater, and full kitchen, with multiple burners, toaster oven, microwave, air conditioning, fans, exhaust fans, maybe a TV or two, with multiple outlets for charging cells phone.

It's not about what's coming in, but how it is constructed, meaning the breakers

The private video footage people were making at home gives me the chills. Almost supernatural how ferocious the tremors were. News says a 90 year old lady died of shock! It must have been extremely frightening. I hope things stabilise and get better.

Why are people still cooking and heating with gas in earthquake zone

@Yrral Because it's cheap! Why do you think?

God bless Japan and may the rescue missions will run smoothly

N. Knight

   The electricity supply to most homes is 100 volts, 60 amps, or 100 amps. Not enough to have an all-electric kitchen.

> Not true. I'm running 2 Miele ovens, warming drawer, IH cooktop and a western style dishwasher. 200v is supplied to most houses in Japan (2 legs of 100v - similar to USA) which makes it easier even over a 60 amp supply.

You upgraded your supply to 200 volts. 100 volts is the standard supply. You must have a large kitchen.

Shindo 7 is huge movement and even well-built buildings can collapse. It is to Japan's credit that so few have lost their lives. It is a combination of generally high building quality, preparedness by local fire brigades etc., and lessons learned from the past. My condolences to the bereaved. What an awful start to the year. There may be more to come, so I will repeat the calls for people to stay safe.

Its a minor issue, but yes, cooking with electricity is safer. Its much better for indoor air quality too. This matters a lot in airtight new builds. TV news is saying 200 houses have been affected by fire. It is very important to note this, but fires after earthquakes are NOT covered by regular fire insurance. They are covered by earthquake insurance only. This means that if you build a very earthquake proof house (i.e., almost all newbuilds) you will still need earthquake insurance to protect you from fires spreading from your neighbours. In this earthquake, as many as 100 may have lost uninsured houses that survived the shaking of the quake perfectly well but burnt down due to their neighbours cooking or heating equipment.

Almost all homes can have (single phase) 200V. Ubitiquous devices like air cons rated for 14 mats or larger rooms and Eco Cute water heater will run on 200V.

Quite a shocking, tragic way to ring in the new year — especially on the usually quietest day of the whole holiday. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for any way to donate money for temporary relief for the victims.

Prayers for Japan!

Red Cross donations here.

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/

Red Cross donations here.

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/

Thanks for the link! That’s the first place I’ll start.

Pretty sobering photo. I hope there is no further damage or loss of life.

@Mocheake Yes, The photos coming in through the NHK app too. Heart breaking. Most Japanese on 1/1 would have been celebrating in the home with the traditional Japanese foods and drink. Or at the family Haka cleaning and praying. But the first day of the year. Expect the death toll to climb. The Central area is going to really all the help they can get. Prayers sent.

Terribly sad. Wish there was something I could do to help.

Last year end, Japan's always thoughtless economy group with influential to LDP had demanded to hurry restarting nuclear plants, but this quake breaks its Shika nuclear plant's electrical system, caused fire. but Japanese government concealed it at first.

This quake epicenter had nuclear plants building plan. Opposition movement was able to stop it, but if government had forced its plan, Japan might face second nuclear disaster.

The brutal reality is that for all Japan residents, foreigners/card holders, J people, families, earthquakes can strike at any time with the minimum of warning. Its a natures snotty deal, a morbidity if you in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The child in the photo without socks is a reality check. It must be uncomfortably cold. chilly.

Why are all those people in the photo hanging out like that ?

Shouldn't it be made a danger zone and a restricted area with color cones and barriers etc ?

It's not a playground to hang out in.

Because it's a designated assembly point. Safer than anywhere else in the vicinity.

@wallace

You must have a large kitchen.

Yes I do. My house was built with 200v supply about 50 years ago. Most houses in Japan have 200v available, divided between two 100v busses so you can spread the load. The owners or renters just don't know it I guess.

N. Knight

@wallace

You must have a large kitchen.

> Yes I do. My house was built with 200v supply about 50 years ago. Most houses in Japan have 200v available, divided between two 100v busses so you can spread the load. The owners or renters just don't know it I guess.

Some houses still have only a 100-volt supply. When there is 200 volt you still have to have an electrician to install 200 volt power outlets. It might also need a bigger consumer unit and breakers. In some areas, you also need to have permission from the supplier.