The mayor of Japan's Suzu said on Tuesday that “90 percent of the homes” in the small peninsular town were “completely or almost completely destroyed” after a devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck near the city. estimated.
The earthquake occurred on Monday, January 1st, on the Noto Peninsula on the west coast of Honshu.This region has experienced more than ever before. 90 aftershocks It has been of much lower intensity since the first quake, and geologists have warned that subsequent aftershocks could be more powerful, requiring the evacuation of as many people as possible. Authorities lifted the most severe tsunami warning on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida: “Significant damage has been confirmed, including many casualties, collapsed buildings, and fires.'' Said on tuesday. “Searching and rescuing victims is a race against time.”
As of Tuesday afternoon local time, Japanese authorities had confirmed 48 deaths from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami and fire. The actual death toll is likely to be higher as emergency workers and Japan's Self-Defense Forces struggle to access the Noto Peninsula. Images taken by local residents show the main road leading to the peninsula cracked, riddled with potholes or covered in seaweed and mud.Kishida mobilized 10,000 Self-Defense Forces respond to the earthquake, rescuing those still trapped, as well as providing food, clothing, and shelter to survivors.
“We will do everything possible to support the disaster victims, including securing supplies such as food, blankets, and fuel, providing medical care, and restoring infrastructure such as electricity and water,” Kishida instructed.
According to reports on Tuesday, local doctors were unable to reach Suzu's hospital due to road destruction. Similarly, many of the thousands of first responders were brought in from other parts of the country. struggle The cracks sent the foot of the road flying into the air, allowing us to find roads intact enough to enter Suzu, Wajima, and other hard-hit areas.
Asahi reported that a possible nuclear disaster was averted by chance. “Hokuriku Electric Power's Shiga Nuclear Power Plant, which is the closest to the epicenter, had already shut down two reactors before the earthquake for regular inspections, and no effects of the earthquake were observed.''
In addition to the dead and missing, more than 57,000 people have been forced to evacuate, taking shelter in public emergency shelters and temporary tents. Japan is currently experience Freezing winter temperatures threaten the lives of survivors who may be trapped under debris. Many of the affected areas are include Around 45,000 households are without electricity and several water pipes are believed to have burst. suggest Access to clean water is also limited.
According to Kyodo News, Suzu City Mayor Masahiro Izumiya said at a press conference on Tuesday, “The situation is catastrophic, with about 90% of the houses either completely destroyed or almost completely destroyed.'' Asahi The city of Suzu was hit by a “major earthquake” in May 2023, and the city of about 5,000 residents, with a population of 14,000, suffered structural damage that has not yet been experienced by most of the city. repairedleaving the home vulnerable.
The newspaper reported that Tomiya stated at the same press conference that “about 1,000 houses have been completely destroyed,'' and lamented that “we cannot even confirm whether they are safe'' of the houses that may remain. We are in a very difficult situation. ”
Suzu City is located at the tip of the peninsula, so it is thought to be one of the municipalities most affected by the earthquake, subsequent tsunami, and subsequent fires and landslides. Other cities and towns, including Noto City and neighboring Wajima City, also suffered major damage.Kyodo News in Wajima reportmore than 200 buildings were destroyed in the city-wide fire.
“White smoke rose above Wajima, where the waters of the Sea of Japan turned reddish-brown with sediment kicked up by the undertow,” the Japanese newspaper said. Asahi Shimbun report.
Aerial video of Wajima and nearby areas shows large areas of land engulfed in flames during the night of January 1-2.
In Suzu, Asahi Shimbun Quote Locals told harrowing stories of people fleeing their homes knowing their loved ones were still at home. One anonymous woman, 69, said she ran out of the house and had to watch her rescuers pull out her sister, who had sustained severe chest injuries. Paramedics found his brother-in-law but did not remove him from the rubble because he appeared to be dead.
“He's not moving and he's cold. We're sorry, but that's all we can do today,” the responder told the sisters.
The magnitude 7.6 earthquake was the strongest to hit the Noto Peninsula in documented history since 1885, according to Japanese newspapers. Yomiuri Shimbuncited seismology experts who expressed concern that the fault line in the area could widen, resulting in more intense earthquakes that would affect a wider area of land.
“The fault that extends into the ocean moved for about 100 kilometers,” Shinji Toda, a professor of seismology at Tohoku University, told the newspaper. He observed that the area affected by the fault previously extended only 30 kilometers (about 19 kilometers). miles), but he has now reached 130 kilometers (just over 80 miles).
“In the Noto region, more than 600 felt earthquakes have occurred since December 2020.” Yomiuri I remembered.
