Earthquake in Japan: The number of missing people reaches more than 300 people

Disaster Management Policyand Technology Center

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9:8:43, 09/01/2024 In the updated list published by Ishikawa government, the number of people missing in the earthquake on January 1 increased to 323 people.

Japanese media reported that as of 9:00 a.m. on January 8 (local time), the number of people missing in the earthquake in Ishikawa province on January 1 had increased to 323 people.

Meanwhile, according to NHK, the number of people killed in this 7.6 magnitude earthquake has increased to 168 people. In the updated list published by the Ishikawa prefectural government, the number of missing people in Wajima - one of the areas most heavily damaged by the earthquake, increased from 31 people to 281 people.

The earthquake collapsed dozens of houses in Wajima, while fires destroyed a large area here.

Rescuers search for missing people after an earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan on January 6, 2024. (Photo: Kyodo/TTXVN)

Heavy snowfall hinders rescue operations while more than 2,300 people are still isolated, mainly due to divided roads and landslides. As of January 8, about 18,000 households in Ishikawa were still without power, while more than 66,100 households were still without water on January 7.

About 28,800 people are staying in emergency shelters, many of which do not have enough electricity, water and heating equipment.

Meanwhile, authorities warn that heavy snowfall, up to more than 10 cm in many places, could cause more houses to collapse and that rain that lasts for many days could increase the risk of landslides.

Speaking on NHK, Ishikawa Prefectural Governor Hiroshi Hase announced that the government would make every effort to overcome the consequences of the disaster.

The top priority now is to save the lives of those trapped under the rubble and reach isolated communities. Currently, the government has deployed many helicopters and soldiers to reach isolated communities.

Recently, a 90-year-old woman was rescued after 5 days trapped in a collapsed house in Suzu city, Ishikawa province.

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurred on January 1 on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture and surrounding areas in Central Japan. The earthquake was followed by hundreds of aftershocks. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) officially named the earthquake "2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake."

Japan suffers hundreds of earthquakes each year, but most damage is minimized thanks to strict building regulations in place over the past 40 years.

However, many of the houses were built a long time ago, especially in rapidly aging communities in rural areas, like Noto.