The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The death toll resulting from Japan’s destructive New Year’s Day earthquake has surpassed 160, according to authorities.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate over 100 individuals who remain missing a week after the disaster. Inclement weather, marked by heavy rain and snow, is impeding rescue operations, raising concerns about landslides and building collapses.
The earthquake, measuring 7.6 in magnitude, struck the remote Noto peninsula, leading to building collapses and a significant fire. The cities of Wajima and Suzu have been severely affected, with the majority of the reported deaths occurring there.
While the number of missing persons has decreased from 195 to just over 100, the death toll has risen from the previously reported 120 on Sunday. Over 2,000 people are reportedly cut off due to extensive road damage, and some are taking refuge in emergency shelters.
The Japanese military is distributing essential supplies, including food, water, and blankets, to those displaced from their homes. The defence ministry deployed nearly 6,000 troops for relief efforts, expressing commitment to ongoing lifesaving operations beyond the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors.
Despite challenging conditions, stories of miraculous recoveries have surfaced, such as a woman in her 90s found alive under rubble in Suzu after five days. Residents in the worst-affected areas are urged to remain vigilant due to ongoing seismic activity, with over 1,200 tremors recorded since New Year’s Day.
Japan, known for its high seismic activity, has experienced an increase in earthquakes around Noto since the end of 2020, with over 500 small and medium earthquakes recorded in the region over the past three years.
