The death toll from the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture on January 1 has surged to 202, marking the first time more than 100 lives have been claimed by such an event in the country since the 2016 Kumamoto tremors. The devastating tremor, named the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, has left 565 people injured, with over 320 still missing.
Wajima City and Suzu City bear the brunt, accounting for 81 and 71 deaths, respectively. The Noto Peninsula, recording 1,248 tremors since the initial quake, faces continued seismic activity, prompting warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency. Despite challenges posed by a cold air mass causing snowfall, rescue efforts persist, though hampered, with the government scrambling to secure additional evacuation centers and temporary housing for the affected populace.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida underscores the heightened risk of building collapses and landslides, urging caution in the ongoing recovery endeavors amidst severe cold and adverse weather conditions.