Image Credits - mainichi.jp
Following the terrible earthquake that occurred on the Noto Peninsula in central Japan one month ago, survivors are still coping with the fallout, dealing with both the physical and psychological effects of losing close ones.
At least 240 people died and another fifteen were reported missing after the magnitude 7.6 earthquake. It is speculated that fifteen people passed away due to difficulties arising from the evacuation.
A moment of quiet was observed in the impacted communities at 4:10 p.m. on New Year’s Day, during which time anecdotes of personal loss and perseverance surfaced. Oma Keisuke was a policeman who lost his wife, daughter, and two kids when boulders and mud covered their Suzu City bungalow.
Keisuke acknowledged how hard it was to accept the truth of his circumstances, saying that it was very difficult to move forward step by step and that he felt incredibly alone.
In Ishikawa Prefecture, almost 14,000 evacuees currently stay in makeshift shelters in town halls and school gymnasiums. A step towards recovery was made on January 31 when the first temporary housing units in Wajima City were finished and were able to accommodate some evacuees.
However, problems are emerging, especially for the elderly and incapacitated. The difficulties of taking care of his 96-year-old mother were expressed by Takenaka Shuji, whose home was devastated after the earthquake. The family can’t go to an evacuation centre because they do not have running water and require daily nursing care.
There are roughly 2,800 people who are unable to access evacuation centres because they need nursing care or are encountering other challenges, according to officials. To prevent more tragedies caused by disasters, prefectural authorities have pledged to assist these unprotected people in return.
On the political front, the task force established by the central government to reconstruct the impacted districts held its inaugural meeting on Thursday. The government has promised more assistance, providing up to $20,000 to every family with senior citizens whose homes sustained significant damage. In addition, plans call for the restoration of 21 facilities, namely Wajima Port and Noto Airport, to lessen the strain on local governments.
The community is resilient and motivated to rebuild and support one another in the wake of this terrible natural tragedy, even as the survivors traverse these extraordinary hurdles.