Ishikawa: Around 23,800 households were without electricity in the Ishikawa region and over 66,400 households were without water supply as a massive earthquake struck Japan on New Year. The death toll from a series of earthquakes in Japan on January 1 jumped up to 100 on Saturday, as the search for survivors under collapsed buildings continued for the fifth day amid the aftershocks.
The number of deaths had reached 98 earlier in the day, but two more deaths were reported in Anamizu. Meanwhile, as of Saturday, the number of missing was accounted to 211 in the Ishikawa region of Japan’s main Honshu.
The United States has announced $100,000 aid on Friday, including blankets, water and medical supplies, and also promised for more help if required.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his condolences to Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida over the loss of lives in the deadly earthquake.
“I express my deepest condolence to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives. We stand in solidarity with Japan and its people affected by the disaster,” PM Modi said.
Fifty-nine of those killed were in the city of Wajima and 23 were in Suzu, while the others were reported in five neighbouring towns. More than 500 people have been injured, at least 27 seriously, news agency AP reported citing Ishikawa officials.
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Around 23,800 households were without electricity in the Ishikawa region and over 66,400 households were without water supply. While over 31,400 people were evacuated and have been staying in 357 government shelters, AFP reported.
The earthquakes, including a powerful one with a magnitude of 7.5, jolted the Noto Peninsula in the central prefecture of Ishikawa on New Year’s Day, causing buildings to collapse and triggering tsunami alerts till eastern Russia.
A seventy-two-hour critical period to find survivors when the quake struck ended late on Thursday.
On Friday, the death toll from the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in the remote Noto peninsula rose to 92.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces doubled the number of troops taking part in rescue and relief to 4,600, Kyodo news agency reported.
Many people are thought to be trapped under their collapsed homes – mostly in the towns of Suzu and Wajima. The wooden structures were not built to withstand earthquakes frequently plaguing the country.
Tens of thousands of residents are still without power and water, while hundreds remain isolated from help because of landslides and blocked roads.
“We will not give up,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said after a meeting with disaster response officials on Friday.