Rescue efforts in Japan faced challenges due to harsh weather conditions and damaged infrastructure, hindering the search for 222 people still missing four days after a powerful earthquake. The 7.5 magnitude quake struck on New Year’s Day, and the death toll neared 100.
Adverse weather, including rain, snow, and falling temperatures, compounded the difficulties for thousands of rescuers attempting to reach stranded communities in the central Ishikawa region. Aftershocks and damaged roads further complicated the operation.
While two elderly women were miraculously rescued from the rubble in Wajima on Thursday, hopes of finding more survivors diminished amid the challenging conditions. The Noto Peninsula’s port city, Wajima, was heavily affected, with remnants of a large fire that destroyed numerous structures on the first day.
Authorities reported 222 people unaccounted for, down from an earlier count of 242. The death toll rose to 94, with 464 injuries. Power outages affected around 30,000 households in the Ishikawa region, and nearly 90,000 homes had no water across three regions.
Government shelters housed hundreds of people, while the isolation of some villages hampered rescue operations. The earthquake impacted the Suzu area, where fishing boats were sunk or swept ashore by tsunami waves. Devastation also hit Anamizu, where Vietnamese residents faced challenges without heating, water, or adequate shelter.
Japan experiences frequent earthquakes, but the Noto region has seen intensified seismic activity over the past five years. The 2011 earthquake and tsunami left a lasting impact, claiming around 18,500 lives and triggering a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant.
