Japan started the first day of the new year with a 7.6 magnitude earthquake. More than 50 buildings partially or completely collapsed. Many buildings were engulfed in flames.
About 15 seconds before the earthquake, which killed at least 48 people, a local resident received a notification from the Earthquake Warning System.
The user who recorded those moments on his camera received millions of views on social media.
A person who was broadcasting live a few seconds before the earthquake left the room he was in before the earthquake, thanks to the earthquake warning notification that came to his phone.
Dr. Hitoshi Baba, Senior Advisor to the Japan International Cooperation Agency, said the system, which has been in use for a long time, saves people precious seconds by providing warnings before strong tremors and reduces earthquake-related damage.
WORKING IN JAPAN SINCE 2007
The Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system is a joint technological development of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) and the Railway Technical Research Institute, and has been operating through multiple devices throughout Japan since October 1, 2007.
