WAJIMA, Japan. The death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Japan’s western coastline this past week has risen to 126, with aftershocks threatening additional devastation. The hardest-hit region, Ishikawa prefecture, mourns the loss of lives, including a 5-year-old boy who succumbed to worsening injuries sustained from Monday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake.
The seismic activity has not only claimed lives but has also left roads cracked and vulnerable to collapse. Aftershocks continue to rock the area, exacerbating the risk of further damage. With rain and snow forecasted overnight and into Sunday, officials are concerned about the increased peril to already shaky ground.
Wajima city bears the highest death toll with 69, followed by Suzu with 38. Over 500 people have been reported injured, with at least 27 in serious condition. The temblors have left roofs strewn across roads, buildings flattened, and roads warped like rubber. A devastating fire has turned a neighborhood in Wajima to ashes.
The grim situation is compounded by more than 200 people still unaccounted for, and reports of 11 individuals trapped under collapsed homes in Anamizu. As rescue operations intensify, the community faces not only the immediate challenge of the aftermath but also the long-term economic repercussions.
For 76-year-old Shiro Kokuda, the house in Wajima where he grew up was spared, but a nearby temple went up in flames, and he is still searching for friends at evacuation centers. “It’s been really tough,” he shared.
Japan, grappling with an aging population, is now confronted with the economic and humanitarian challenges posed by the earthquakes. Nearby North Korea, in an unusual gesture, sent a message of condolence to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The international community, including President Joe Biden and other allies, has expressed sympathy and pledged aid.
While power is gradually being restored along Japan’s coastline, water supplies remain a critical concern. Emergency water systems have been damaged, prompting thousands of troops to mobilize and transport water, food, and medicine to the over 30,000 evacuees seeking refuge in auditoriums, schools, and other facilities. The nation faces a daunting path to recovery as it navigates the complex aftermath of this devastating natural disaster.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
