64 people have died as a result of the tremendous earthquake that slammed Japan on New Year’s Day, and rescue efforts are underway to reach survivors despite subfreezing temperatures and predicted severe precipitation.
On Monday afternoon, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Noto peninsula, approximately 185 miles (300 km) from Tokyo on the opposite coast. The earthquake destroyed houses and cut off remote areas from desperately needed aid. Early today, a 4.9-magnitude aftershock shook Ishikawa prefecture and surrounding areas.
Two days after the earthquake, it is still unclear how much damage and casualties have been incurred due to severed roads, damaged infrastructure, and the remote location of the hardest-hit communities.
According to authorities, there will be significant rains in the earthquake-affected areas, which has sparked concerns about landslides and the possibility of obstructions to rescue operations. Additionally, nightly lows of about 4°C (39°F) are anticipated.
According to Ishikawa Prefectural Authorities, 64 deaths have been confirmed so far, making the earthquake the deadliest in Japan since at least 2016.
29 people died in Wajima city, while 22 people died in Suzu; 11 deaths were reported scattered among other nearby towns; and two additional deaths were still awaiting official confirmation in Wajima city, bringing the toll to 64 fatalities.
As a quake-prone nation with crisscrossing fault lines and many volcanoes, Japan has had its share of disasters, including a quake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in north-eastern Japan in 2011.
Although no serious problems or elevated radiation levels have been found, several nearby nuclear reactors raised concerns. The critical cooling process of the Shika nuclear plant in Ishikawa was maintained by backup power despite a partial blackout.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that Japan is racing against time because more than 40 hours have passed and feels that Japan is still at a critical moment due to receiving reports about many people who are still waiting for rescue under collapsed buildings.
‘’Noto’s narrow peninsula landscape has added to the challenges in reaching some communities, and water, power, and mobile phone service are still down in some areas,’’ Kishida noted.
According to Ishikawa Prefecture, more than 33,000 people have evacuated their homes, and some areas have no access to water or electricity.
Kishida said that despite many roads being cut off and several areas outside of the city center being accessed by helicopter only, the government has opened a sea route to deliver aid like water, blankets, food, and other supplies, and some larger trucks are now able to reach some of the hardest-hit areas in Suzu and Wajima cities.
Ishikawa Governor Hiroshi Hase has encouraged everyone to use clean masks and soap to protect against the spread of infectious diseases since they are being sheltered together.
‘’Ensuring adequate water supplies and bathroom services for those who were displaced is a priority,’’ Hase said.
Despite smaller quakes continuing to hit the Noto Peninsula, search dogs have joined military personnel and firefighters in trying to find and rescue dozens of people who are still stuck under various rubble, although the exact number is unclear.
