Japan quake toll up to 73 amid landslide fears
THE death toll from an earthquake that struck Japan on New Year’s Day rose to 73 yesterday as authorities rushed to bring aid to survivors facing freezing temperatures and heavy rain forecast.
The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck the Noto peninsula on Monday afternoon, levelling houses and cutting off remote areas from aid.
Heavy rains were forecast in the quake-hit areas yesterday, raising fears of landslides that could further hinder efforts to free many more people trapped under rubble.
Severed roads, damaged infrastructure, and the remote location of the hardest-hit areas have complicated rescue efforts. The full extent of damage and casualties remains unclear two days after the quake.
Authorities have confirmed 73 deaths, up from 55 late on Tuesday, making the earthquake the deadliest in Japan since at least 2016.
Smaller quakes continue to hit the peninsula.
Firefighters from Osaka and Nara prefectures pressed on despite the rain and aftershocks, searching for a woman trapped in a wooden structure squashed by a seven-floor building which collapsed sideways.
The rescuers were removing rubble to try to reach the woman, who was not showing any vital signs, a firefighter said.
The government opened a sea route to deliver aid and some larger trucks are now able to reach some of the more remote areas, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a press conference following a national disaster response meeting.
“It’s been over 40 hours since the initial quake. This is a battle against time, and I believe now is a crucial moment in that battle,” he said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said yesterday that China is willing to provide necessary help to Japan.
Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said there have been no Chinese casualties reported so far, and China is closely following the situation.
More than 33,000 people have evacuated their homes, and some areas have no access to water or electricity and have spotty signal, according to Ishikawa Prefecture.
(Agencies)