Japanese emperor and empress visit towns hit by Jan. 1 quake and console homeless

TOKYO — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Friday visited towns in the north-central region of Noto to pray for victims of the deadly New Year’s Day earthquake and console thousands of homeless living in evacuation centers. The magnitude 7.6 quake killed 241 people. Four are still missing. More than 9,000 residents whose homes … Read more

13 years after Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan remembers the dead and vows to keep rebuilding

TOKYO — Japan marked the 13th anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered a nuclear meltdown and left large parts of Fukushima prefecture uninhabitable on Monday with a minute of silence and memorial events, where officials pledged continued support for rebuilding. A 9.0 magnitude quake and tsunami ravaged parts of Japan’s northeastern coast … Read more

A look at events surrounding the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria a year ago

ISTANBUL — A year ago, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, causing widespread destruction and the loss of over 59,000 lives. A massive rebuilding effort is still trudging along a year later but many questions remain about the future of the devastated areas. The Feb. 6, 2023, quake struck shortly … Read more

A year after Syria’s deadly earthquake, orphaned children adjust to the loss bit by bit

IDLIB, Syria — Aya al-Sudani, a bubbly toddler with a toothy smile, will mark her first birthday on Tuesday, but there will be no celebration with cake and presents. The day also marks a dark memory. On Feb. 6, 2023, a massive earthquake hit Syria and Turkey and the baby girl was pulled alive from … Read more

Shrinking international aid and enduring conflict compound earthquake misery for Syrians one year on

JINDERIS, Syria — A year ago, Sido Naji woke to his house shaking in northwest Syria. He was used to the sounds of shelling and airstrikes after more than a decade of war, but this time the assailant was a force of nature: a massive earthquake. The 16-year-old and his father managed to flee before … Read more

7.1 earthquake strikes western China, but no casualties reported yet from sparsely populated area

BEIJING — A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck a sparsely populated part of China’s western Xinjiang region early Tuesday, downing power lines, destroying at least two homes and prompting authorities to suspend trains, local authorities and state media reported. No fatalities or injuries were immediately reported. Xinhua News Agency cited the China Earthquake Networks Center as … Read more

Landslide in mountainous southwestern China buries 47 people

BEIJING — A landslide buried 47 people in a remote village in mountainous southwestern China on Monday, state media said. Hours later, two survivors were rescued amid freezing temperatures and falling snow. The disaster struck just before 6 a.m. in the village of Liangshui in the northeastern part of Yunnan province. By evening, nine bodies … Read more

Japan’s Kishida visits quake-hit region as concerns rise about diseases in evacuation centers

TOKYO — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Sunday the country’s north-central region of Noto for the first time since the deadly Jan. 1 earthquakes to alleviate growing concern about slow relief work and the spread of diseases in evacuation centers. The magnitude 7.6 earthquake left 220 dead and 26 others still missing while injuring … Read more

Magnitude 6.4 earthquake shakes parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan but no damage is reported

ISLAMABAD — A magnitude 6.4 earthquake shook parts of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan on Thursday, sending panicked residents fleeing from their homes and offices and frightening people in remote villages, Pakistani officials and the U.S. Geological Survey said. The epicenter of the quake was in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Afghanistan, according to the … Read more

More than 200 people died since Japan’s New Year’s quakes. 7 of them died in shelters

TOKYO — The 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the western coastline of Japan on New Year’s has killed 213 people as of Thursday. Eight of the deaths were at evacuation centers, where rescued people died from injuries and sickness. Such deaths weren’t directly caused by the quakes, fires and mudslides. They happened in alleged safety. … Read more