Japan confirms its reputation for good health among seniors. On Saturday, a woman in her nineties was found alive after spending five days under the debris of her collapsed house in Suzu, after the earthquake that struck Japan on January 1. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake which devastated the Noto Peninsula, on the western coast of the island of Honshu, the largest in the archipelago, left 128 dead, 560 injured and 195 people remain missing, according to a new report announced Sunday afternoon by local authorities.
The elderly woman was able to answer questions clearly when she was rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment, public broadcaster NHK said. ” Hold fast ! “, rescuers shouted to him in the rain, in a video shot by the police and broadcast by local media. ” Everything’s gonna Be Alright ! », “stay positive”. A Tokyo police spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the rescue was carried out by police officers from Tokyo and Fukuoka, without giving further details.
Rain and snow complicate rescue operations
Many were less fortunate: in the town of Anamizu, also on the peninsula, a 52-year-old man who learned of the deaths of his 21-year-old son and his in-laws was waiting for news of other members of his family. “I want them to be alive. It is unthinkable that I will remain alone,” he told NHK. Rescuers are continuing their efforts to search for people missing or isolated due to roads damaged by the earthquake, and to deliver food and equipment to the victims. Some 29,000 people were sheltering in 404 government shelters on Sunday, according to the Ishikawa department.
The situation further worsened with the deterioration of weather conditions on Sunday, which is expected to continue on Monday, with rain and heavy snowfall expected locally. The Japanese weather agency has warned of the risks of hypothermia. New landslides due to precipitation are feared and icy conditions are expected to further complicate traffic on roads damaged by the earthquake. Due to poor road conditions, the Japan Self-Defense Forces sent a small group of soldiers on foot to each of the isolated communities and deployed helicopters, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told NHK on Sunday.
“Alongside these efforts, it is necessary to improve the accommodation and health conditions of people affected by the disaster”, because this situation is expected to prolong, added Fumio Kishida, estimating that “sustained and long-term efforts breath” would be necessary to rebuild devastated areas. Some 18,000 homes remained without electricity in Ishikawa on Sunday evening and more than 66,000 homes were without water.