Japan confirms its good reputation for the health of older people. A woman in her 90s was found alive on Saturday after spending five days under the rubble of her collapsed home in Suzu following the earthquake that struck Japan on January 1. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake that devastated the Noto Peninsula on the west coast of Honshu island, the largest in the archipelago, left 128 dead, 560 injured and 195 people remain missing, according to a new report published Sunday afternoon by published to local authorities.
The elderly woman was able to answer questions clearly as she was rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment, public broadcaster NHK said. “Hold on!” rescuers shouted to him in the rain in a video shot by police and broadcast by local media. “Everything will be okay!” “, “Stay positive.” A Tokyo police spokesman confirmed to AFP that the rescue was carried out by police from Tokyo and Fukuoka, without giving further details.
Rain and snow make rescue operations difficult
Many were less fortunate: In the town of Anamizu, also on the peninsula, a 52-year-old man who learned of the deaths of his 21-year-old son and his in-laws waited for news from other members of his family. “I want them to be alive. It is unthinkable that I will remain alone,” he told NHK. Rescuers are continuing efforts to search for people missing or isolated due to roads damaged by the earthquake and to deliver food and equipment to victims. According to the Ishikawa department, about 29,000 people were staying in 404 government shelters as of Sunday.
The situation deteriorated further with deteriorating weather conditions on Sunday, which is expected to continue on Monday, with local rain and heavy snowfall expected. The Japanese Meteorological Agency has warned of the risk of hypothermia. New landslides are feared due to rainfall and the slippery conditions are expected to further complicate traffic on roads damaged by the earthquake. Due to poor road conditions, the Japan Self-Defense Forces sent a small group of soldiers on foot to each of the isolated communities and used helicopters, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told NHK on Sunday.
“In addition to these efforts, it is necessary to improve the housing and health conditions of the people affected by the disaster,” as this situation is expected to last even longer, added Fumio Kishida, estimating that “sustained and long-term efforts” are needed to achieve this Rebuild areas. As of Sunday evening, about 18,000 households remained without power and more than 66,000 households without water in Ishikawa.