Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan — Local authorities in Central Japan are expediting the relocation of evacuees from the devastating earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture and surrounding areas on New Year’s Day. The move comes after reports of challenging conditions at evacuation centers that may have led to multiple deaths. The death toll from the earthquake has now reached 206, with eight people believed to have died due to a deterioration in their health conditions, possibly caused by the stress of being evacuated.
Efforts are being made to transfer over 26,000 evacuees to hotels and other accommodations, while approximately 3,100 residents remain cut off due to damaged roads. The prefectural government is working to secure more comfortable accommodations for the evacuees, temporarily transferring them to other locations away from the disaster-stricken areas. Evacuees in Ishikawa’s Wajima have boarded buses bound for a prefectural sports center in Kanazawa.
The central government is expected to arrange accommodations for around 10,000 evacuees in Ishikawa, Toyama, Fukui, and Niigata prefectures within the week, according to sources close to the matter. The number of people unaccounted for has dropped to 52, but the figure has been fluctuating daily as the prefectural government continues to release the names of individuals it cannot reach.
The local government and the weather agency are advising people to be cautious of unstable ground in the quake-hit areas, as continuous rain has melted the snow and softened the ground. In response to the quake, local authorities are increasing inspections on buildings at risk of collapse to prevent secondary damage. A large-scale search operation is also ongoing at a gutted market in Wajima, where a major blaze broke out following the quake.
The prefectural government believes that many people may still be unable to report whether they are safe due to communication shortfalls and severed traffic routes. The names of those unaccounted for are removed from the website as soon as their whereabouts are confirmed.
Suzu and Wajima have seen the largest number of fatalities, with 91 and 83 killed, respectively. The authorities continue to work tirelessly to provide assistance and support to those affected by this tragic event.