WAJIMA, Japan: Japanese rescuers are tirelessly searching for survivors as authorities issue warnings of potential landslides caused by heavy rain following a powerful earthquake that has claimed the lives of at least 62 people.
The 7.5-magnitude quake, which struck on January 1, shook Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu, triggering tsunami waves over a meter high, igniting a major fire, and causing extensive damage to roads.
The Noto Peninsula, located on the Sea of Japan coast, bore the brunt of the devastation, with buildings engulfed in flames and houses reduced to rubble in towns such as Wajima and Suzu, as evident from before-and-after satellite images.
As of Wednesday, the regional government has confirmed 62 fatalities and over 300 injuries, with 20 individuals in critical condition. The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers brave aftershocks and inclement weather in their search efforts.
Currently, more than 31,800 people are seeking refuge in shelters, and over 200 buildings have collapsed, with this number anticipated to increase, according to government reports.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his concern, stating, “More than 40 hours have passed since the disaster. We have received a lot of information about people in need of rescue, and there are people waiting for help,” following an emergency task force meeting on Wednesday. As a result, the number of military personnel involved in rescue missions has been doubled, and additional rescue dogs have been deployed.
The urgency of the operation is further heightened by the heavy rain warning issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency in the region, urging residents to remain vigilant for potential landslides until Wednesday evening.
Municipal mayor Masuhiro Izumiya described the extent of the destruction in one town in the Suzu area, stating, “There are almost no houses standing. About 90 percent of the houses in that town are completely or almost completely destroyed… the situation is truly catastrophic,” as reported by broadcaster TBS.
As of now, approximately 32,800 households in Ishikawa prefecture remain without power, and many cities are experiencing water shortages due to the damage caused by the earthquake.
While an ample supply of food and emergency provisions have arrived in the region, the delivery to affected communities has been impeded by blocked or damaged roads.
The people of Japan are resilient, and the nation is rallying together to provide support and aid to those affected by the earthquake. International assistance and solidarity are also pouring in to help alleviate the suffering caused by this natural disaster.
Source: The Manila Times