Japanese rescuers are tirelessly searching for survivors in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that struck Ishikawa prefecture on Monday. As relief operations intensify, authorities caution that heavy rains, potential landslides, and ongoing aftershocks could hinder their efforts.
As of Wednesday, the regional government has reported that the death toll has risen to 62, with over 300 individuals sustaining injuries—20 of which are considered serious.
The magnitude-7.6 earthquake, which occurred off the Noto Peninsula on Monday afternoon, led to widespread damage. It caused houses in the northern coastal town of Suzu to collapse and ignited fires that devastated parts of Wajima City. Additionally, the quake inflicted considerable damage to roads, complicating the already challenging search and rescue missions.
Government figures show over 31,800 people are currently residing in shelters. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, addressing an emergency task force, spoke of the urgency of the situation: "More than 40 hours have elapsed since the disaster. Reports of individuals needing rescue are numerous, and many await assistance. Local authorities, along with police, firefighters, and operational units, are fervently conducting rescue operations, bolstered by an increased number of personnel and rescue dogs."
Individuals evacuated from Wajima have found temporary refuge in a greenhouse [Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters]
Wajima, severely affected, witnessed large-scale destruction and fires that swept through the area [Kyodo via Reuters]
Kishida further stated that the central government is arranging help for the hardest-hit areas of the Noto Peninsula via sea routes since terrestrial paths are nearly impassable. The Japan Self-Defence Forces are also deploying helicopters to reach isolated villages. The Kyodo news agency reports these ongoing efforts.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has pointed out the increased likelihood of landslides caused by the predicted heavy rainfall, further complicating the situation.
In the town of Suzu, Mayor Masuhiro Izumiya paints a bleak picture, revealing that there are "almost no houses standing." He describes the situation as catastrophic, with around "90 percent of the houses completely or near completely destroyed," based on a report from the broadcaster TBS.
Ishikawa prefecture reports nearly 34,000 households are currently without power, according to the local utility, and many cities are also left without running water.
The US Geological Survey measured the earthquake's magnitude at 7.5, slightly different from the JMA's measurement of 7.6, which prompted a significant tsunami warning, later retracted.
Since Monday's quake, the region has experienced more than 400 tremors, further unsettling residents, as reported by the JMA.
Approximately 1,000 soldiers from the Japanese Self-Defence Force are part of the rescue initiative [Joint Staff Office of the Defence Ministry of Japan via Reuters]
Japan's position at the convergence of four tectonic plates makes it particularly susceptible to earthquakes. Although the country endures hundreds of tremors each year, most have minimal consequences. Despite the tragic losses incurred by Monday's earthquake, the meticulous public warnings, which were broadcasted via media and smartphones, as well as the prompt actions by the public and officials, helped limit some of the potential damage.
According to University of Tokyo professor Toshitaka Katada, who specializes in disaster risk reduction, Japanese citizens are well-prepared with extensively rehearsed evacuation strategies and stocked emergency supplies. "There are probably no people on Earth who are as disaster-ready as the Japanese," he says.
Last year, a government report noted an increasing frequency of earthquakes in the Noto Peninsula since 2018. The country still vividly remembers the 2011 disaster in the northeast, where a 9.0 magnitude undersea quake and subsequent tsunami eradicated entire communities and sparked a crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant, resulting in the deaths of at least 18,500 people.
