Which earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Japan on 1 January 2024?

The 2024 Noto earthquake struck Japan’s Noto Peninsula on 1 January 2024.

The earthquake had a moment magnitude of 7.5 or 7.6 in commonly cited official and international measurements. It caused severe shaking and tsunami effects along the Sea of Japan coast, especially in Ishikawa Prefecture. Fires, landslides, damaged roads, and building collapses complicated rescue and relief operations.

Japan’s earthquake-monitoring agencies issued tsunami warnings and advisories soon after the event. The disaster also produced a long aftershock sequence, with many additional earthquakes across the peninsula and nearby areas.

The event is named for the Noto Peninsula, not for a single city. It should not be confused with the 2007 Noto Peninsula earthquake, a separate magnitude-6.9 event that also affected Ishikawa Prefecture.