Japan was struck by a 6.6 magnitude earthquake near Miyazaki Prefecture on Jan 13. Although classified as a strong earthquake, infrastructure in the area withheld damage for the most part, and there were no injuries besides a man who fell down the stairs. Due to the frequency that Japan experiences earthquakes, the buildings are built specifically to withstand structural damage. However, earthquakes in Japan typically trigger other natural disasters, including tsunamis. For a few hours after the earthquake struck, there was a tsunami warning, but the only reported tsunami was 3.2 feet, less than half an hour after the earthquake as noted by NHK TV.
However, there have also been other strong earthquakes in Asia recently. On Jan 21, Taiwan was struck by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake. Earthquakes with magnitudes over 6.3 are considered strong, and can greatly damage highly populated areas. As such a strong earthquake, it led to numerous collapsed buildings and a fire in a printing factory. There were 27 people reported as injured.
Earlier this year, Tibet was also hit by a devastating earthquake. At a magnitude of 7.1, the earthquake damaged over 1,000 houses, and 126 people were reported dead, in addition to 188 being injured according to BBC and the New York Times. BBC also noted that over 14,000 people worked to rescue and find missing people, or those buried under rubble. Earthquakes are common in this area, considering China is part of the Ring of Fire, alongside Japan and Taiwan. However, as noted by Japan Forward, scientists are theorizing that the earthquake in Tibet and the devastation it caused are at least partially due to human activity, as opposed to purely natural disaster. Tibet has been the location of much mining, in addition to the building of many dams. This has led scientists to theorize that they have contributed to instability in the region, amplifying the earthquake and its effects. The earthquake also damaged five major dams in the area, three of which have been emptied to avoid another disaster, as noted by Reuters.
These earthquakes have contributed to the growing number of natural disasters seen recently, including the wildfires in California.
Destruction in Tibet after the Earthquake. (Euronews)