New Year's Day Earthquake Hits Japan

WAJIMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 31: Excavators sit parked near a collapsed building on December 31, 2024 in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. On January 1, 2024, a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Noto Peninsula, resulting in significant destruction, over 228 fatalities, and damage to more than 83,000 homes. The earthquake was characterized by a rare "dual-initiation mechanism," where seismic activity began almost simultaneously at two points on the fault, leading to intense ground shaking and a series of aftershocks that complicated recovery efforts. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)