Abstract: On January 1, 2024, a large earthquake with magnitude 7.6 struck the Noto Peninsula in Japan, causing significant casualties and property damage. This paper provides a quick analysis of the focal characteristics, damage and emergency response, using information in three days after the earthquake. The results show that: ① The rupture of the earthquake was thrust type, and the distribution of aftershocks showed a NE zonal character with ~150 km range. ② GNSS observed a significant west-northwest coseismic displacements in the epicenter annex, with maximum horizontal displacements of 1.2 m, and the two-segment fault inversion model was able to fit the observed data well. ③ The large PGV and PGA, with maximums of 145 cm/s and 2,681 cm/s², were observed in the vicinity of the epicenter. This earthquake produced the highest value (7 degree) of the Japanese Intensity Scale near the epicenter, and all the areas in the Noto Peninsula were above 5+ (the Japanese Intensity Scale). ④ The recent earthquake has so far resulted in 73 fatalities and 323 injuries in Ishikawa Prefecture. Additionally, 183 buildings have been either completely or partially destroyed. The seismic event also triggered a series of cascading disasters, including tsunamis, fires, slope failures, and road damages. Finally, we briefly summarize the emergency measures in disaster response, including emergency relief and information dissemination. This work provides a reference case for understanding the mechanisms of earthquakes, studying the mechnism of disasters, and developing effective responses, further, provides lessons for handling similar events in the future.

Key words: The 2024 Noto peninsula M7.6 earthquake, Seismic rupture mechanism, Seismic disasters, Emergency response