WAJIMA, Japan—Last Saturday, 124 hours after a powerful earthquake struck the area, killing at least 126 people, causing houses to collapse, and igniting landslides, a 90-year-old lady was discovered still alive inside a damaged house in western Japan.
The woman in Suzu city, Ishikawa Prefecture, has withstood the Monday 7.6-magnitude earthquake for over five days. The woman was not seen in nationally televised news video, which showed rescue workers wearing helmets blocking the area's view with blue plastic.
Survival odds decrease beyond the initial 72 hours. In recent days, there have been several reports of impressive rescues with the participation of military, firefighters, and other professionals.
A 5-year-old child who had been healing from burns he sustained when boiling water spilled on him during Monday's 7.6 magnitude earthquake was one of the 126 people who perished. His condition abruptly deteriorated, and he passed away on Friday, as reported by the hardest-hit prefecture, Ishikawa.
More homes may be buried by aftershocks, and vital routes for rescue supplies might be blocked. Authorities issued a warning that partially broken roadways may fully collapse. With rain and snow predicted for Sunday and overnight, that risk was increasing.
With 69 documented deaths, Wajima city has had the greatest number, followed by Suzu with 38. At least 27 of the over 500 wounded individuals required major medical attention.
The tremors caused everything underneath the roofs to be flattened and left roofs laying haphazardly on roadways. The roads twisted like rubber. A neighborhood in Wajima was reduced to ashes by a fire.
Although the figure has changed, there were still over 200 persons missing. It was stated that eleven persons were buried beneath two collapsed houses in Anamizu.
Shiro Kokuda, 76, was still searching for his pals at evacuation centers despite the fact that his childhood home in Wajima was spared. A neighboring shrine caught fire.
“It’s been really tough,” he said.
Japan is one of the world's fastest aging societies. Over time, the population of Ishikawa and the surrounding territories has decreased. More than ever, a delicate economy based on crafts and tourism is under danger.
Leader Kim Jong Un of neighboring North Korea unusually sent Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida a note of condolence, according to a report released on Saturday by the official Korean Central News Agency.
Earlier, the United States sent signals to Japan expressing condolences and offering assistance. Joe Biden, the president, and his supporters.
Reporters were informed by Japanese government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi that Japan was appreciative of all the messages, including the North Korean one. According to Hayashi, North Korea hasn't sent Japan a condolence message since a tragedy in 1995.
Water supplies were scarce even as power was progressively restored throughout Japan's coastline. Additionally harmed were emergency water systems.
Over 30,000 people were evacuated to auditoriums, schools, and other buildings, and thousands of military were flying and trucking in water, food, and medication to help them.
According to the widely read Yomiuri newspaper, an airborne investigation conducted in the area had identified over 100 landslides, some of which were obstructing vital highways. Certain communities continued to live in isolation and were in need of assistance.
“I hope the city recovers, and I hope people won’t leave, and they stay here to work hard toward recovery,” said Seizo Shinbo, a seafood trader, who was stocking up on noodles, canned goods and rice balls at a supermarket.
“There is no food. There is no water. And the worst is gas. People are still in kilometer-long lines.”
