Japan Earthquake: Hundreds still missing, death toll rises to 168
The number of individuals unaccounted for in the aftermath of Japan’s New Year’s Day earthquake has surged to 323, marking a stark increase from previous reports, according to local authorities. The death toll has concurrently risen to 168, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Compounding the challenges faced by rescue and relief efforts, heavy snowfall has blanketed the affected regions, impeding access to over 2,000 people and leaving many others without power or compelled to seek refuge in overcrowded emergency shelters.
Wajima, one of the hardest-hit areas where the quake razed numerous homes and a major fire ravaged a significant expanse, saw an alarming spike in the number of missing persons from 31 to 281, as per a new list released by Ishikawa prefecture in central Japan.
In a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a woman in her 90s from the city of Suzu in the same prefecture miraculously survived five days under the debris of a collapsed house before being rescued on Saturday. Police footage captured rescuers encouraging her with shouts of “Hang in there!” and “You’re gonna be OK!”
Tragically, not all stories unfolded with such hope. Naoyuki Teramoto, 52, faced unbearable grief as the bodies of three of his four children were discovered in the town of Anamizu.
In a poignant interview, he revealed plans for a family trip to Izu, a renowned hot spring resort, after his daughter successfully passed her high school entrance exam.
The persistent rain has heightened the risk of landslides, while the newly fallen heavy snow, exceeding 10 centimeters in some areas, poses the threat of additional building collapses.
Approximately 18,000 households in the Ishikawa region remain without electricity, and over 66,100 households lacked access to water on Sunday.
For the 28,800 individuals crammed into government shelters, the situation is dire, with reports of inadequate water, electricity, and heating. Governor Hiroshi Hase of Ishikawa expressed concern about preventing disaster-related deaths and pledged to improve the conditions in shelters.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the primary focus on rescuing those trapped under rubble and reaching isolated communities.
The government has mobilized a comprehensive response, deploying police and fire department helicopters, as well as small groups of troops on foot, to access these remote areas.
This tragic event unfolds against the backdrop of Japan’s frequent seismic activity, with hundreds of earthquakes occurring annually. Stringent building codes have historically mitigated damage, but aging structures in rural regions like Noto highlight vulnerabilities.
The collective memory of the 2011 monster quake, triggering a tsunami and nuclear catastrophe, looms large, emphasizing the nation’s resilience in the face of recurrent natural disasters.
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