An elderly woman in her 90s has been rescued from the debris of a two-story house over five days after a powerful earthquake shook Japan. The rescue took place in Suzu City, Ishikawa prefecture, on Saturday evening, 124 hours after the earthquake struck, as reported by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.
Rescuers discovered the elderly woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, and promptly transported her to a nearby hospital. According to medical professionals on Sunday, the woman is well enough to engage in conversations, but her legs sustained injuries during the ordeal.
Kume Takanori, a member of the emergency rescue team, revealed to NHK that the woman’s knees had become trapped under furniture within a narrow space between the first and second floor. The complex extraction process required several hours.
The 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which struck central Japan on January 1, triggered tsunami alerts as far away as eastern Russia. Coastal residents were compelled to evacuate as buildings and roads crumbled, with some structures succumbing to flames. The latest figures from Japanese authorities on Saturday reported a death toll of at least 126.
The first 72 hours following a natural disaster are deemed “absolutely critical” for search and rescue efforts. This timeframe, often referred to as the “golden period,” significantly impacts the likelihood of finding survivors as conditions for those trapped can deteriorate rapidly.
While rescue operations persist in Ishikawa, the extent of the damage remains uncertain, with over 200 people still unaccounted for, according to Japanese officials. NHK noted that numerous roads remain blocked, posing challenges for emergency personnel and vehicles attempting to reach survivors.
Addressing the ongoing challenges, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced traffic restrictions around the earthquake zone starting Sunday. These restrictions aim to facilitate the movement of disaster recovery-related vehicles by barring regular traffic from entering the affected areas. The nation remains vigilant in its efforts to manage the aftermath of this devastating earthquake.
(With inputs from agencies).
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
