Monterey helps Japan earthquake victims
MONTEREY >> A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck western Japan's Noto Peninsula during the afternoon of New Year's Day, crumbling homes, triggering a tsunami and cutting off remote communities. As of Friday morning, at least 94 people were confirmed dead, 33,000 forced to evacuate and at least 200 people unaccounted for.
Much of the extent of the damage is still unclear with first responders still on the scenes. The Noto Peninsula has suffered multiple severe earthquakes in the last decade.
Near the epicenter of where the earthquake struck is the city of Nanao, a smaller city on the sea and sister city to Monterey. According to the Monterey Peninsula-Nanao Friendship Association, at least five people were confirmed dead in Nanao.
Through the association, hundreds of Monterey Peninsula residents and families have made their way to Nanao or hosted families from Japan here in Monterey. Since 1995 these visits have grown into business trips and school exchanges, forming cross-country relationships that have lasted years.
“Now, those friends have been anxiously watching news reports, messaging on social media and attempting telephone calls,” according to a press release from the association.
Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson wrote to Nanao Mayor Yoshitaka Chatani on Wednesday.
“It is hard to fathom the magnitude of what you and your surrounding communities are
dealing with,” Williamson wrote. “We also hope you feel supported and know there is worldwide concern for what you are all experiencing.”
Chatani, who had visited Monterey in September, has been providing general updates about power, street damage and evacuation centers on social media.
Victims of the earthquake in Nanao have also given personal accounts to members of the association:
A staff member of the international relations division
at city hall in Nanao said he worked 50 hours straight before coming home to find his house completely demolished, and he will have to rebuild it completely.
Temples dating back to the 1600s are in shambles and major highways have cracks in them and endured structural damage.
Hotels and local airports have been shut down, and during the last major earthquake in 2007 in Nanao, the closures lasted a month to conduct repairs.
The friendship association is fundraising for the victims of the earthquake and giving updates on how to donate at monterey.org/ sistercitynanao.