Japan Commemorates 2024 New Year's Day Earthquake

SUZU, JAPAN - JANUARY 01: A woman walks past her neighbor's destroyed house site caused by Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year’s Day on January 01, 2025 in Suzu, Japan. On January 1, 2024, a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan's Noto Peninsula, resulting in significant destruction, over 280 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 Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)