ISHIKAWA, Japan: Rescue operations have transitioned to recovery efforts in central Japan’s Ishikawa region, where a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck on New Year’s Day, claiming at least 110 lives. The focus is now on retrieving bodies and cleaning up the aftermath, with 210 people still unaccounted for, and the death toll expected to rise.
Bad weather, including the forecast of snow, and heavily damaged roads, hinder thousands of rescue workers in their tasks. Over 1,000 landslides have further complicated access to affected areas. Despite some successful rescues, the overall mood remains somber, as the discovery of fatalities becomes increasingly prevalent.
In badly hit cities like Wajima on the Noto peninsula, homes lie in ruins, and the daunting task of recovery includes sifting through rubble. The use of trained disaster rescue dogs aids in locating victims, with barking signaling potential discoveries. Identified houses with fatalities are marked, awaiting coroners for proper identification by relatives.
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Coastal areas, such as Shiromaru, faced destruction from tsunami waves, sinking fishing boats and leaving debris scattered. Residents grapple with the aftermath, clearing rubble and grappling with the loss of homes. The death toll stands at 110, and with 210 still missing, the Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, urged urgent and swift road repairs to assist isolated communities.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed “deep sympathy and condolences,” joining other nations in acknowledging the disaster. Essential services, including electricity and water supply, face disruptions, affecting hospitals and care facilities. Over 30,000 people seek refuge in government shelters.
Japan, accustomed to frequent earthquakes, implements strict building codes, yet the recent quake highlighted vulnerabilities in older structures. The nation continues to recover from the traumatic 2011 earthquake and tsunami that resulted in significant casualties and a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima plant.
