It's been a wild start to 2024
Randy Mann.
JAKE PARRISH/Press
We’re barely a week into 2024 and some parts of the world have experienced extreme weather and natural disasters. Since the beginning of the year, major earthquakes, floods, snowstorms and frigid weather have been making headlines.
On New Year’s Day, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake in the northeastern tip of the Noto Peninsula in western Japan. It was the deadliest earthquake since April 16, 2016, when a 7.0 earthquake hit southern Japan. The earthquake was strong enough to shift the coastline of western Japan by over 800 feet in some areas. A tsunami of approximately 14 feet was also recorded along the Sea of Japan coastline. Total damage from this event is estimated at over $6 billion U.S. dollars and there have also been thousands of aftershocks since the big quake.
This region has been experiencing earthquake swarms for the last three years. There was also a large earthquake in May 2023 that had a magnitude of 6.3 that also shook the Noto Peninsula area.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
