The death toll from a series of powerful earthquakes in Japan on New Year’s Day rose to 73 on Thursday, as the search for survivors under collapsed buildings continued for the fourth day. More than 33,000 people have evacuated their homes and about 1,00,000 houses have no water supply.
The earthquakes, including a powerful one with a magnitude of 7.5 jolted the Noto Peninsula in the central prefecture of Ishikawa, causing buildings to collapse and tsunami warnings to be sent as far away as eastern Russia.
All the deaths have been reported in Ishikawa prefecture where the hardest hit Noto peninsula is located. More than 33,000 people have evacuated their homes and about 1,00,000 houses have no water supply, Reuters reported, citing local government. More than 300 people have been injured, and at least 25 of them are in serious condition.
“Very extensive damage has been confirmed, including numerous casualties, building collapses and fires,” PM Kishida told reporters, describing a “race against time” to rescue victims. Kishida said with the tsunami warning lifted, the government will try establishing sea routes to reach isolated areas in the northern Noto peninsula. He added that about 100 members of the self-defence forces are current in the quake-hit areas and holding search and rescue operations.
Japan is no stranger to earthquakes – the island nation experiences about 1,500 each year. It’s been nearly 13 years since the devastating earthquake and tsunami that triggered an accident at a nuclear plant in Fukushima. But on Monday, as shaking began in Ishikawa and the tsunami alarms began sounding – it brought back memories, and yet this most recent quake is also a remarkable story of Japan’s success.
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