Thread: Strong quake prompts tsunami warning Japan

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Japanese earthquake on Jan. 1 shifted coastline over 800 feet, satellite photos show

Satellite images captured striking changes in the coastline of Japan's Noto Peninsula following a massive earthquake on New Year's Day.


A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Japan on Jan. 1 around 2:10 a.m. EST (0710 GMT, or 4:10 p.m. local time in Japan), prompting orders for residents to evacuate affected coastal areas that experienced significant uplift. Satellite imagery of the area before and after the quake shows that the intense uplift extended the coastline by up to 820 feet (250 meters), which is greater than the length of two American football fields.


Images of Japan's Noto Peninsula shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Nahel Belgherze show coastal areas where the seafloor has risen above the water, creating newly exposed beaches. The photos capture the coastline changes after the earthquake and tsunami had already subsided, leaving some ports completely dry and inaccessible to boats.

MORE-PICS Japanese earthquake on Jan. 1 shifted coastline over 800 feet, satellite photos show

• PM Kishida to visit quake-affected areas Jan. 14 to assess damage

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit earthquake-devastated areas in Ishikawa Prefecture on Sunday to assess the damage firsthand, the government said.

In his first trip to the quake-hit region on the Sea of Japan coast since a magnitude-7.6 temblor occurred on New Year's Day, Kishida will speak with local residents staying at evacuation centers as well as exchange views with local government officials.

The prime minister is also expected to observe the affected areas from a helicopter.

Kishida had planned to visit Ishikawa Prefecture on Saturday but decided to do so a day later due to inclement weather.

The construction of temporary housing units for people whose homes were damaged by the quake is under way as it will take a considerable time for their homes to be repaired or rebuilt.

The death toll from the disaster stood at 220 as of Saturday afternoon, according to the prefectural government.

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• Over 11,000 Houses in Ishikawa Pref. Damaged by Noto Peninsula Earthquake; Wajima, Suzu Yet to Submit Figures

The Ishikawa prefectural government announced Saturday that the number of houses listed as either entirely collapsed, half-collapsed or partially collapsed as a result of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake stood at 11,286 as of 2 p.m. on the day.

The number recorded in Nanao was 5,010 and Shika recorded 2,138.

However, the actual number could still substantially increase, because the city governments in Wajima and Suzu had announced only that their numbers were “large.”

The total death toll in the prefecture reached 220 as of 2 p.m. on Saturday.

By municipality, the numbers of dead stood at 98 in Suzu, 88 in Wajima, 20 in Anamizu, six in Noto, five in Nanao, two in Shika and one in Hakui.

Of them, 13 were disaster-related deaths, such as those whose health deteriorated while living in shelters.

The number of people whose safety has not been confirmed after the earthquake as municipal governments have not been able to contact them stood at 26.

• Kishida Makes 1st Visit to Areas Hit by Noto Peninsula Quake

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Ishikawa Prefecture on Sunday to inspect damage caused by the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day.

This is the prime minister's first visit to areas affected by the 7.6-magnitude earthquake, which left 220 people dead in the central Japan prefecture and 23 people still missing as of 9 a.m. Sunday.

Speaking to people at an evacuation center set up at a junior high school in the Ishikawa city of Wajima, Kishida encouraged them to keep their hearts strong in the difficult situation, while vowing that the government will make every effort to respond to the disaster.

At the Air Self-Defense Force's Wajima Air Station earlier in the day, the prime minister thanked SDF personnel for their disaster relief efforts and asked them to stand by affected people and address their concerns and hopes for the future.

On his Ishikawa visit, Kishida was accompanied by disaster management minister Yoshifumi Matsumura and Ishikawa Governor Hiroshi Hase.

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• The death toll rose to 220 in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa on Sunday, after a series of strong quakes of up to 7.6 magnitude jolted the prefecture and its vicinity, as snow and rain continued in the quake-stricken region.

The number of people who remained unaccounted for dropped to 20 in the hardest-hit prefecture as of 9 a.m. local time, while at least 1,015 people suffered injuries due to the quakes, local authorities said.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), strong winds, snow and high waves are expected in northern and eastern Japan from Sunday evening through Tuesday as the winter pressure pattern strengthened.

Winds of up to 72 kilometers per hour are forecast in the quake-hit Hokuriku region and Niigata Prefecture, with gusts of over 108 kilometers per hour on Sunday.

A cold air mass is expected to move in over the Hokuriku region and Niigata Prefecture from Monday through Tuesday, bringing heavy snow to areas on the Sea of Japan coast.

Meanwhile, since the powerful quake on Jan. 1, tremors with an intensity of 1 or greater on the country's seven-tier scale system have been recorded 1,368 times as of 4 p.m. on Saturday, the JMA said.

The weather agency said people could face strong tremors with an intensity of 5 or higher for about another month.

220 killed, 20 missing in Japan's quake-hit Ishikawa prefecture-Xinhua

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• Experts finds liquefaction made surfaces move up to 3 meters in Japan’s Noto Peninsula Earthquake

Ground bases in Uchinada, Ishikawa Prefecture, slid horizontally by as much as three meters because of the liquefaction phenomenon during the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, according to inspections by the Japanese Geotechnical Society.

Liquefaction refers to phenomenon in which earthquake tremors loosen bonds among sand grains, and the sand moves as if it was floating in water.

As a result of the large-scale lateral movement of the ground, many residential areas and road surfaces in the town rose or fell by large degrees.

A team of researchers who conducted the inspections found that the ground movement resulted in severe damage to houses and other structures in a wide area.

Sand dunes grew around town, leading the team of researchers to believe that the loose ground base in the area had an impact on the severity of the earthquake damage.

The inspections were conducted from Jan. 6 to 8. The results found that sand and water spouted out onto the surface in the Nishiaraya district of the town due to liquefaction.

In some locations, electric poles tilted and road surfaces rose by one meter or more from their original height.

Susumu Yasuda, a professor emeritus of Tokyo Denki University and an expert of geotechnical engineering who was a member of the team, said that lateral movement, where ground bases slide horizontally, was caused by liquefaction in the inspected sites.

Considering the size of cracks in the ground, Yasuda assumed that the ground bases moved by about three meters.

The team of researchers also confirmed lateral movement in the Osaki district in Kahoku, a city near Uchinada in the prefecture.

Lateral movement due to liquefaction attracted attention in the aftermath of the 1983 Sea of Japan earthquake. In the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, houses and transportation networks near quay walls suffered serious damage due to the phenomenon.

Liquefaction tends to occur in reclaimed coastal land. At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, damage happened when the upheaval of manholes occurred in bay areas of Chiba Prefecture and other regions.

Yasuda said, “The damage to houses [in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake] is more serious than those in the past. The situation will likely have a large impact on survivors’ ability to restore their livelihood.”

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• District Cut Off By Japan Quake Accessible After 12 Days; Many Evacuees Still Forced to Shelter in Vehicles

A cut-off district in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, has finally become accessible, 12 days after a national highway was blocked due to a landslide triggered by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on Jan. 1.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry completed work to temporarily open National Highway Route 249 on Saturday. As soon as the road became passable at 10 a.m., cars from the Konosu district headed to the city center one after another, driving past the remaining earth and sand.

“It’s been a really long time,” a resident said with relief. However, many people looked exhausted as the prospects for their lives as evacuees remained uncertain.

About 170 people are staying at Konosu Elementary School and the Konosu community center, which are serving as evacuation centers for the district. They had to carry water and food on foot over steep slopes until the Self-Defense Forces began transporting supplies by helicopter Tuesday.

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• Yoshiki Donates 10 Million Yen To The Japanese Red Cross Society To Support Areas Affected By The Noto Peninsula Earthquake

On January 4th, YOSHIKI donated 10 million yen to the Japanese Red Cross through his 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Yoshiki Foundation America to support areas affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

YOSHIKI said, “I was back in Japan at the end of the year for several TV appearances, and through the news reports I saw the damages caused by the earthquake. It is very painful as I think about the feelings of the many people who are suffering so much in the disaster areas. I thought about what I could do and made a donation. The reason I announce these donations each time is to attempt to expand the circle of support even a little. I sincerely hope that everyone in the affected areas can return to their normal lives as soon as possible.”

• Japan earthquakes have killed 221 people and 24 remain missing

The death toll from earthquakes which rocked Japan has risen to 221.

More than 1,000 people were injured after a series of tremors as high as 6.7 magnitude hit the region a fortnight ago.

At least 24 people remain unaccounted for.


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• Japan to send caregivers to quake-hit understaffed facilities for elderly people

Japan's welfare ministry on Monday will start sending caregivers from across the nation to elderly people's facilities in Ishikawa Prefecture that have been understaffed since a devastating earthquake struck two weeks ago.

The quake disrupted the lives of many caregivers, leaving them unable to work. It also severed the supply of water and electricity, making baths and toilets at many facilities unusable. Such affected facilities are mostly located in the cities of Wajima and Suzu and other municipalities.

Some residents of the facilities were transported to hospitals after their health deteriorated, while others have contracted infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. Some died after the quake even though it remains unclear whether the causes of their deaths are related to the disaster.

Efforts are now underway to move residents of the facilities to alternative places to protect their lives and health. But many residents have been unable to find places that can take them.

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• Japan's quake-hit Wajima City to resume some garbage collection on Monday

Wajima City is set to resume household garbage collection on Monday for the first time since the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa was struck by an earthquake on New Year's Day.

Officials say they will only accept burnable trash, including food waste.

The city suspended garbage pickup after the disaster, as it was unable to confirm the safety of its incineration facilities. Uncollected household trash has been mounting.

With concerns growing about worsening sanitary conditions, city officials decided to restart some household garbage service in cooperation with the prefectural capital, Kanazawa City, and other municipalities.

Wajima city officials are calling on people to bring their food waste and other foul-smelling garbage outside to be picked up.

• Police Continue Search for Missing Persons in Ishikawa Pref. amid Snowfall

Death Toll from Noto Peninsula Earthquake Rises to 222 in Ishikawa Pref.

The death toll from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture rose to 222 as of 2:00 p.m. on Monday, the prefectural government announced. Fourteen of the deaths were disaster-related, such as those caused by deteriorating physical conditions resulting from evacuation. The number of those who cannot be contacted is 22.

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• Emperor Offers Condolences to Noto Quake Victims

Japanese Emperor Naruhito expressed his condolences Monday to the victims of a powerful earthquake that hit hard the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on New Year's Day.

He also conveyed his sympathy to bereaved families and other afflicted people in central Japan, at a ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

It was the first time for the Emperor to state his feelings about the disaster in public, although he made Ishikawa Governor Hiroshi Hase know how he felt through his close aide on Jan. 5.

"There are many people who are still unaccounted for or have been forced to evacuate, and I sincerely hope for swift progress in relief and restoration operations," the Emperor said in a speech at the ceremony.

He also said he "deeply appreciates efforts" being made by those engaged in disaster response activities in the cold and harsh weather conditions.

https://twitter.com/ImperialJPNfan/s...02383127203874

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• 2 weeks after big quake, thousands remain living in dire conditions

Two weeks after the powerful New Year’s Day quake rocked the Noto Peninsula, about 19,000 people are still taking refuge at school gymnasiums, community centers and other makeshift evacuation shelters.

The number has significantly dropped from the peak of 34,000 as some evacuees are being relocated to more comfortable lodging such as hotels and inns.

Moving vulnerable people to safer accommodations is seen as essential as many of those displaced by the earthquake are languishing in spartan living conditions that threaten their health.

As of Jan. 14, 780 people had been moved to such hotels and inns, according to Ishikawa Prefecture, which opened a toll-free hotline (0120-266-755) on the same day for evacuees seeking such relocation.

In Wajima, about 300 residents were evacuated from their cut-off communities on Jan. 14. However, 490 remained isolated across 15 areas in Wajima, Suzu and Noto.

The damage to residential buildings, which is still under assessment, has increased to 12,443 buildings, up 1,146 from Jan. 13. The full extent of the damage in Suzu and Wajima remains unknown, as it is still being evaluated.

Water outages continue for about 55,000 households, mainly in the Noto region.

As of 2 p.m. on Jan. 14, officials confirmed 221 fatalities from the Jan. 1 earthquake. The figure includes 13 deaths believed to have not been a direct result of the magnitude-7.6 quake.

There were 99 casualties in Suzu, 88 in Wajima, 20 in Anamizu, six in Noto, five in Nanao, two in Shika and one in Hakui.

The prefecture will release the names of those who died in the earthquake, starting on Jan. 15, with the consent of their families.

The number of people who are missing or unaccounted for stood at 22.

• US military to deploy helicopters to Japan's earthquake-hit peninsula

U.S. military helicopters in Japan are set to deploy to the earthquake-hit Noto peninsula on the country's west coast to help with relief efforts in communities cut off by the disaster, sources familiar with the matter said.

The quake has destroyed roads and evacuations by sea are difficult, meaning some vulnerable people can only be moved by air, said one of the sources with knowledge of the plan.

Details of the mission are expected to be announced later on Tuesday, the sources said on condition of anonymity as the plans have not yet been made public.

More than 220 people are confirmed to have died in the Jan. 1 quake that destroyed thousands of homes, vital infrastructure and knocked out power in the isolated area. Relief efforts have also been hampered by strong aftershocks that rescuers fear could trigger landslides and further damage weakened structures.

Authorities have been warning survivors, many of whom are living in evacuation centres, to guard against freezing temperatures with heavy snow hitting the area in recent days.

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• Japan PM Kishida urges quake evacuees to move to outside affected areas

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed officials to urge people who evacuated after the powerful New Year's Day earthquake to move to new facilities outside the affected areas.

Kishida on Tuesday addressed a government task force that is responding to the disaster in central Japan.

He said some evacuees are worried about what their lives will be like if they move. He told the officials to ensure that evacuees who relocate receive the same support for clothing, food, accommodation and funding as evacuees in the affected areas.

He told them to work with local municipalities to carefully communicate this to the evacuees.

Kishida also noted that some evacuees are reluctant to move because of work, school and childcare circumstances.

He asked the officials to clearly explain that procedures are underway for evacuees to keep their children registered for childcare while also receiving care at their new locations. He said action is also being taken to protect jobs.

Kishida indicated that a support package that reflects the views of affected people looking to rebuild their lives and return to work will be compiled by the end of the month.

He disclosed that he intends to set up a meeting soon for relevant ministers and the heads of affected local municipalities to exchange views.

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• Over 20,000 Houses in Ishikawa Pref. Damaged by Quake; Snow Hampers Construction of Temporary Housing Units

The Ishikawa prefectural government reported that housing units damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake exceeded 20,000 as of 9 a.m. Tuesday. A total of 20,803 damaged houses were recorded in the severely affected prefecture, but the full extent of the damage, particularly in Wajima and Suzu, remains unknown, and the number is expected to rise. The region also grappled with intermittent snowstorms and freezing temperatures, exacerbating the suffering of the survivors.

According to the prefectural government, there has been a rise in count of damaged houses, mainly in Nanao, Nakanoto and Uchinada. About 1,000 units were damaged in Anamizu, according to the town government, but added, “This means that the number is large. We haven’t fully understood the real extent of the situation.”

Foundation work for temporary housing units has begun in Suzu. At an elementary school ground, where 40 units are planned, a 34-year-old construction worker was seen laying blocks. He expressed concerns, saying, “Construction could be delayed if snow accumulates and needs to be cleared.”

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• Tsunami floods 190 hectares after central Japan quake

Tsunami waves generated by the powerful earthquake that jolted the Noto Peninsula and its vicinity in central Japan on New Year's Day swept across some 190 hectares of land in three municipalities, the government said Monday.

The death toll from the quake disaster climbed to 222 as of Monday afternoon, two weeks after the magnitude-7.6 temblor, according to the Ishikawa prefectural government.

The tsunami inflicted damage mostly in the northeastern part of the peninsula, including Suzu and Noto on the Sea of Japan coast, wrecking houses and port facilities, though the full extent of the destruction is yet to be assessed.

The 190 hectares also include areas of the coastal town of Shika in the central part of the prefecture, according to the central government.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference that breakwaters were damaged at least in seven beaches hit by tsunami waves.

The extent of inundation was determined based on images taken by the helicopters of the land ministry and the prefectural government, as well as map information from the country's Geospatial Information Authority.

A team of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, which conducted an on-site survey, has found signs of tsunami waves reaching as high as 4 meters in multiple locations.

With lifeline utilities still to recover in the Noto region, the government of disaster-hit Wajima said more than half of the 401 students of all three junior high schools run by the city in Ishikawa's north will be relocated to prefectural facilities in the southern city of Hakusan on Wednesday to ensure a better educational environment.

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• Noto Peninsula Earthquake: Work to Restore Infrastructure Faces Extreme Difficulties

Two weeks have passed since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and running water and electricity continue to be cut off in the affected areas. Communications disruptions continue as well. The administrative services and companies responsible for this infrastructure must do their utmost to restore it.

In Ishikawa Prefecture, about 55,500 households in eight municipalities did not have running water as of Monday. In six of these municipalities, including the cities of Wajima and Suzu, water service was still unavailable in most areas.

Water pipes are broken everywhere, and in some cases, the equipment that pumps river water to water purification plants has reportedly been damaged.

Water is indispensable for daily life. A prolonged suspension of water services will lead directly to the deterioration of the living conditions of the people affected by the disaster. Therefore, the quick restoration of running water must be given top priority.

There are concerns about the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 at evacuation centers, where many people gather, but evacuees cannot wash their hands sufficiently. It is feared that a sanitary environment cannot be maintained because toilets cannot be flushed with water.

Although many water trucks have been dispatched to the affected areas by local governments from across the nation and the Self-Defense Forces, they have not been able to provide water widely across the affected areas. The amount is also insufficient.

The central government should take the lead to dispatch more water trucks to the affected areas by encouraging other local governments and the Self-Defense Forces to enhance their support.

Power outages continue for about 8,300 households in Ishikawa Prefecture, and 1,000 people, including support from other electric power companies besides Hokuriku Electric Power Co., are working to temporarily restore utility poles and power lines.

Communications disruptions have also occurred, and more than 200 cell phone base stations of NTT Docomo, Inc. and three other major telecommunications companies stopped working. The leading companies are cooperating on such efforts as deploying mobile base stations.

However, such restoration work is reportedly facing difficulties because it is often impossible to approach the sites due to damaged roads and landslides. The workers involved face immeasurable hardships.

In particular, the restoration of running water is expected to take several months. Therefore, it would be realistic to encourage people to make a “secondary evacuation,” meaning move to a place outside the disaster areas, until running water is restored, if they wish.

The central and Ishikawa prefectural governments have secured secondary evacuation shelters, such as inns and hotels in Ishikawa Prefecture and elsewhere, that can accommodate a total of about 30,000 people, but only about 1,000 people have used these facilities.

These evacuation shelters are arranged by governments and are free of charge. However, false information that users will have to pay has been circulating in some areas. This may be one of the reasons why affected people are hesitant to use these shelters. The spread of false information should be prevented.

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• Philippines reaffirms one-China policy after Marcos congratulates Taiwan’s Lai

The Philippines’ foreign ministry on Tuesday reaffirmed the country’s one-China policy after President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr congratulated Taiwan’s new leader Lai Ching-te.

Marcos on Monday congratulated Lai for winning Taiwan’s election, referring to him as its next president and said he was looking “forward to close collaboration” and “strengthening mutual interests.”

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan’s next president,” Marcos said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead,” the Philippine president added.

The Philippines foreign ministry said the congratulatory message was Marcos’ way of recognising the Philippines and Taiwan’s “mutual interests”, including the 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the democratically governed island.

“The message of President Marcos congratulating the new president was his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs and holding a successful democratic process. Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its one-China policy,” the statement said.

Other leaders have also congratulated Lai on his victory, with many including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa calling for peaceful resolution of tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

The Southeast Asian nation, which has expressed concerns over tensions in the Taiwan Strait, has ties with Taipei, with its Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan serving as a de facto embassy.

• Japan doubles emergency funds after New Year’s Day quake

Japan doubled a fund used for disaster relief and other contingencies to $6.8 billion after a devastat[at]ing New Year’s Day earthquake, the government said Tuesday, as snow worsened conditions for survivors.

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• 232 confirmed dead after Japan's Noto quake: local gov't

The death toll from the powerful earthquake which struck central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa rose to 232 on Wednesday, according to local authorities.

According to the prefectural government, the updated figure came as of 9 a.m. local time, with an additional 10 casualties reported by the city of Wajima, one of the most-hit regions by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

Local authorities said these fatalities were discovered in the vicinity of the Wajima Morning Market, a popular tourist spot that suffered extensive damage in the earthquake-triggered fires immediately following the seismic event.

Since last week, the Wajima Morning Market has been the focus of large-scale search and rescue operations.

The number of individuals unaccounted for has decreased by one, leaving Wajima city with 17 missing persons and Suzu city with four, totaling 21 people.

According to local media reports, the damage to residences has reached a staggering 22,374 confirmed cases, and there is a high likelihood that the number of affected buildings will significantly increase as further assessments are conducted.

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• Earthquake relief: Maternity shelter opens in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref.

A secondary shelter for pregnant and postpartum women affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake has opened in Kanazawa City, with midwives providing support.

The shelter is located at the Ishikawa Prefectural Youth Training Center in Tokiwa Town, Kanazawa City. It accepts pregnant women and women up to one month postpartum, and is currently serving four women 10 to 16 weeks pregnant and their children.

Two midwives are on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., providing health observation, consultation, and massage services.

A woman in her 40s from Suzu City evacuated to the facility with her 6-year-old son. She is currently 16 weeks pregnant. On January 15, a midwife checked the fetus's heartbeat and found the baby was growing well.

The woman's house was tilted by the quake, and she had to stay in her car for some time. She had been unable to bathe for about one week and was worried about the health of her fetus.

"I was worried about my baby. But when the midwife checked on me and I heard the heartbeat, I cried," she said. "The midwife was a great source of emotional support for me."

Midwife Yoshida Michiyo says, "Women who come in pale or anxious seem at ease here. We hope more will come to receive support for their babies."

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• 150-Yr-Old Sake Brewer at A Loss after Earthquake Devastation

Ryotaro Nakashima, the 35-year-old owner of a long-established sake brewer devastated by the Jan. 1 earthquake that struck central Japan, has mixed feelings about rebuilding his business.

Nakashima is the eighth-generation owner and "toji" master brewer of Nakashima Shuzoten in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, that has been in business for more than 150 years.

Its key brewing building, reconstructed after it was destroyed by an earthquake 17 years ago, collapsed again in the 7.6-magnitude New Year's Day quake. Wajima is one of the municipalities hit hardest by the latest temblor.

"I want to make sake, but I wonder if there's any point in doing business here if there's going to be yet another earthquake," Nakashima said.

About nine years ago, Nakashima succeeded his father, Koji, the seventh-generation owner, who died suddenly at age 60. Nakashima was 26 at the time.

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• Japan earthquake has rendered at least 15 ports unusable

The New Year’s Day earthquake that struck central Japan has left at least 15 ports unusable due to changes in the relief of the area, which has caused the extension of the coastline, state media reported Wednesday.

One of the points that has undergone the most extreme transformation is the damaged city of Wajima, whose surface has gained more than 200 meters from the sea due to the elevation of the terrain on the Noto peninsula, leaving numerous ships stranded in its ports.

Local fishermen are desperate because their vessels cannot set sail, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

In the port of Kuroshima, in Wajima, the rise of the land has exposed a large area of the ocean floor, with the consequent death of marine wildlife, preventing fishermen from going out to fish.

Naganori Takashima, 80, whose house was affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, told NHK that he used to go fishing about 100 days a year to catch horse mackerel, abalone and other species typical of the area, but said he did not think he could do it in one season.

Takashima, one of about 16,000 people still displaced in the region, says he came to see the damage first-hand and was “desperate because it is not a situation that he can solve” on his own, and worried that the area would “lose its vitality” as a result of the disaster.

Two weeks after the Jan. 1 earthquake, various types of damage had been reported in 58 ports, according to data from Ishikawa prefecture, the most affected area and where Wajima is located.

• U.S. Forces Transport Quake Aid Supplies

U.S. Forces Japan transported relief supplies by helicopter Wednesday to support people affected by the powerful earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on Jan. 1.

A U.S. military helicopter flew twice on the day between the Self-Defense Forces’ Komatsu air base in the Ishikawa city of Komatsu and Noto Airport in Wajima, another city in the prefecture.

SDF members received boxes of supplies at the airport. The items will be delivered to evacuation shelters.

In 2011, the U.S. military undertook Operation Tomodachi relief activities to help Japan in response to the March 11 massive quake and tsunami that hit the Tohoku region. It also transported relief supplies using Osprey aircraft at the time of the 2016 quake disaster in Kumamoto Prefecture.

“It’s very encouraging that U.S. Forces Japan are helping the transportation of relief supplies,” Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters during his visit to Noto Airport to cheer up SDF members. “A friend in need is a friend indeed. I feel that this is a second Operation Tomodachi.”

A U.S. serviceman who participated in Operation Tomodachi told the press at the Komatsu base that he is very lucky to be able again to be part of support when Japan is in a difficult situation and that he prays for recovery.

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• Mobile Communications Mostly Restored in Japan’s Quake-Hit Areas

NTT Docomo Inc. and Rakuten Mobile Inc. completed emergency works to restore mobile communications in Ishikawa Prefecture, which was struck by a powerful earthquake on Jan. 1, except for areas where roads were blocked as a result of landslides and other obstructions, the companies announced Wednesday night.

KDDI Corp. and SoftBank Corp. had already completed such works in the prefecture.

However, despite the emergency work, the four companies’ communication services continued to be disrupted in mountainous areas as well as in some coastal areas in the cities of Wajima and Suzu in the prefecture.

The telecommunications companies are planning to work toward fully restoring services as more roads are cleared.

The earthquake, which registered a maximum of 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale and triggered fires and tsunami, caused up to about 840 base stations to stop working, mainly in Ishikawa Prefecture, due to power outages and damaged communication lines.

The companies began working to solve the disruptions by deploying power-supply vehicles and mobile base stations.

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• Generator fails in test at Japan's Shika nuclear power plant after Noto quake

One of three emergency diesel generators for the No. 1 reactor at the Shika Nuclear Power Station in Ishikawa Prefecture, which has been hit by a series of problems in the wake of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, stopped automatically during a test run, operator Hokuriku Electric Power Co. announced on Jan. 17.

The emergency generators are designed to operate pumps that circulate seawater to cool nuclear fuel stored at the plant in the town of Shika when external power is lost. The failure means trouble has hit part of the plant's last line of safety defense. The company is investigating the cause as it tries to restore operations.

The seismic intensity of the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula Earthquake registered an upper 5 on the 7-point Japanese scale on the grounds of the nuclear power plant, where the reactors are currently offline. The quake caused transformers to malfunction, rendering two of five external power lines unusable. Electricity continues to be supplied through the remaining lines, and a company representative stated that the halt of the generator poses "no safety issues."

On Jan. 16 another quake measuring a lower 5 on the Japanese scale hit the town of Shika. The following day Hokuriku Electric conducted a test run of the emergency generators. It found no issues with two of the generators. It then started the third generator at around 5 p.m. and increased output, but the generator automatically stopped at 5:13 p.m.

The utility had conducted a test run of the emergency power sources for reactor Nos. 1 and 2 on Jan. 3, and no problems were found at the time.

The company has not identified the cause of the automatic shutdown this time, but it confirmed that procedures were followed according to the manual, and an official in charge stated, "The possibility of human error is low."

Under new regulatory standards required by the government for nuclear power plants, aseismic performance levels are categorized into three stages, and emergency generators need to meet the strictest criteria.

• Japan to Restore Local Infrastructure Damaged by Quake

The Japanese government adopted an ordinance on Friday to enable itself to restore infrastructure managed by local governments and damaged in a massive New Year's Day earthquake in the Noto Peninsula.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told officials at a meeting of his disaster response task force that the measure opened the way for the central government to act on behalf of local governments over infrastructure restoration in affected areas.

The central government has already taken steps to provide financial support for infrastructure restoration by local governments and grant affected people exceptions in administrative procedures.

Kishida also instructed officials to consider ways to smooth way for the removal of homes of people who are still missing in the quake to promote reconstruction of affected areas.
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• Japan's quake-hit Wajima City begins issuing certificates for disaster support

Officials in the central Japanese city of Wajima have started issuing certificates to help people claim support for homes damaged by the quake on New Year's Day.

The application procedures began on Friday morning at the city hall. Residents applied for certificates to prove their homes were damaged in the disaster.

The certificate is issued by municipalities in the event of natural disasters. It allows people to receive insurance payments and claim public support.

Officials helped the applicants to complete the application forms. Some residents were issued certificates on the spot.

The officials say an on-site assessment of damage is normally required before certificates can be issued.

But they say they immediately issued certificates to residents of the city's Asaichi Street area, where many buildings burned down in a massive fire following the quake. They say the assessment has already been carried out.

A 76-year-old woman said she has no money after all her bankbooks and other valuables were destroyed by fire. She said she will make a fresh start by requesting new passbooks with the certificate she has just received.

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• Quake-hit JR Nanao Train Line to Resume Service Between Hakui and Nanao on Jan. 22; Limited Expresses Thunderbird, Noto Kagaribi to Return

Earthquake-hit JR Nanao Line, which runs between Tsubata and Wakura Onsen in Ishikawa Prefecture, will resume service between Hakui and Nanao stations on Jan. 22, West Japan Railway Co. announced Wednesday. The service had been disrupted since Jan. 1 due to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, but the train will be able to run between Kanazawa and Nanao.

Service between Takamatsu and Hakui stations resumed on Monday. The section between Nanao and Wakura Onsen has not yet been restored due to damage to bridges and other problems.

The Thunderbird limited express train from Osaka and the Noto Kagaribi limited express train from Kanazawa will also resume services from Jan. 22.

Has anyone told spamdreth this is old news yet?

recovery efforts continue

and will for a long time

• 8 quake-hit cities, towns in Ishikawa Prefecture still without water; death toll 232

Twenty days after an earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture, eight cities and towns on the Noto Peninsula continue to be without water.

Water is still cut off in almost the entire area from Suzu City to Shiga Town, and approximately 50,000 homes in the prefecture are without water, NHK reported Saturday.

The death toll from the quake stands at 232, the majority (197) being in Suzu and Wajima cities. Twenty-two people are still unaccounted for.

On Saturday, a funeral was held in Anamizu for 10 members of one extended family. Naoyuki Teramoto, who lives in Kanazawa City, lost 10 people when his wife's family home was caught in a landslide. The victims were his wife, four children, his parents-in-law and brother-in-law's family. The group had been celebrating the new year together at the time of the disaster.

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• Few Shelters for Elderly, Disabled Manage to Open after Japan’s Noto Earthquake

Authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture are finding it difficult to open a sufficient number of welfare shelters after a deadly earthquake struck the region on New Year’s Day. Welfare shelters are designed for those who need help with daily living, such as the elderly and the disabled.

In seven cities and towns hit hard by the disaster, authorities have managed to set up only about 20% of planned welfare shelters, hindered by severe damage to facilities and a lack of running water and manpower.

With some survivors giving up on shelters and staying at their damaged homes, it is feared that disaster-related deaths could rise due to stress and other factors. Experts have made urgent calls for boosting aid to those in need.

More than two weeks after the fatal disaster, Yoshimitsu Ikeyachi, 73, and his wife, Kiyomi, 73, still have no choice but to remain in their damaged home in the Nonoe area of Suzu.

Kiyomi is unable to stand because of a tumor in her bone marrow. Tada Elementary School nearby is being used as a shelter for evacuees, but the couple were unable to move into the center because it only offers ordinary toilets.

The couple’s wooden house has tilted sharply due to ground subsidence. The floor’s slant makes it impossible for Kiyomi to move around by wheelchair or with a cane, and instead she has to rely on her arms.

Although the power has been restored, the inside of the house is frigid because of the cold air that enters through the cracks of the doors and windows.

_______

• Assessment of Around 30,000 Quake-Damaged Homes Begins in Japan’s Wajima

Officials on Friday started assessing the damage caused to homes by the powerful Noto Peninsula Earthquake in the hard-hit city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture.

At about 10 a.m., six Wajima city officials departed city hall and began assessing damaged buildings, such as by taking photographs of their exteriors. The assessments are required for the issuance of a disaster victim certificate, which is used to calculate the amount of financial support the central government and other bodies will provide to victims of the disaster.

About 30,000 buildings in Wajima need to be assessed, a process which the city government estimates will take two months to complete.

According to the prefectural government, 29,489 homes in Ishikawa had been damaged as of 9 a.m. Friday. However, this figure does not include homes in Wajima and Suzu, the two cities that bore the brunt of the Jan. 1 earthquake. The number of damaged homes is expected to increase as assessments are made in Wajima.

In a related development, the prefectural government announced Friday that the issue of remote communities left isolated, cut off by damage that includes quake-triggered landslides which blocked roads, had “effectively been resolved.” A total of 3,345 residents living in communities in up to 24 districts in four cities and towns, including Wajima, had been cut off by the quake, but this figure had dropped to 26 people as of Thursday, as roads had been reopened and some residents had been evacuated.

• 91％ of Deaths in Noto Peninsula Earthquake Caused by Building Collapse, Ishikawa Pref. Reveals

Ninety-one out of 100 deaths in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake were due to building collapse, according to a list of fatalities released by Ishikawa Prefecture by Saturday. Since Jan. 15, the prefecture has been announcing the names of victims and the details of their deaths with the consent of their families. On Saturday, an additional 10 people were announced, bringing the total to 103. Ages ranged from 3 to 97 years old, with 61 people aged over 70, accounting for approximately 60%. There were 52 male and 51 female victims.

Regarding the circumstances of some deaths, the details of three of the victims were not disclosed due to the wishes of their families. Of the 100 victims who comprise the list, 91 died due to building collapse, eight due to landslides, and one due to tsunami. In Wajima, all 37 victims died due to building collapse, while in Suzu, 40 out of 41 victims died due to building collapse and one due to tsunami. The prefecture stated that specific causes of death, such as crushing or drowning, would be disclosed only if the families wished, and so far, none have been disclosed.

Prof. Akiyoshi Nishimura from Tokushima University, who investigated the causes of deaths in the Great Hanshin Earthquake, said: “In the Kobe city area during the Great Hanshin Earthquake, 53.9% of deaths were due to suffocation caused by building collapse, and 12.5% were due to crushing. In the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, many victims were also trapped under collapsed buildings, and it is believed that many died due to suffocation and similar causes, as in the Great Hanshin Earthquake.”

________

• Isolation of Quake-Hit Communities Effectively Ended; Demand for Temporary Emergency Housing Presents Challenge

The isolation of communities cut off by landslides and other damage in the wake of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake has effectively been ended thanks to the Self-Defense Forces’ evacuation assistance and the removal of sand and earth, the Ishikawa prefectural government said Friday.

Up to 3,345 people in 24 communities had been counted as isolated.

According to the prefectural government, that figure has decreased to 26 people in five communities. Nine of the people were soon to be evacuated and 17 intend to remain in the communities.

Meanwhile on Friday, SDF personnel transported 11 evacuees from Noto Airport in Wajima to Komatsu Airport in Komatsu, both in Ishikawa Prefecture, to help them move to secondary evacuation shelters such as hotel rooms. It was the first time an Air Self-Defense Force aircraft was used to help people evacuate in the wake of the massive earthquake that hit the peninsula on New Year’s Day.

About 14,000 people are staying at evacuation centers in the prefecture, and the prefectural government will focus its efforts on relocating evacuees to secondary evacuation sites.

________

• Diseases spreading among quake survivors

Nearly 3 weeks after the powerful New Year's Day earthquake that devastated central Japan, slowing the spread of infectious diseases among evacuees is proving to be a challenge.

In Ishikawa Prefecture, the deaths of 232 people have been confirmed. Fourteen of them are suspected of having died from disaster-related causes. Officials say 22 others remain unaccounted for.

The Ishikawa Prefectural government says its daily count of new infectious disease cases, mainly at evacuation centers, exceeded 100 for 10 straight days.

In a facility in Hakui city that currently houses 28 evacuees from a residence for people with disabilities in Wajima city, twelve have been infected with the coronavirus. The director of the Wajima residence, Une Kazuhiro said the harsh conditions of shelter life, without running water or enough food, is taking a toll on evacuees.

At a shelter in Suzu City, five evacuees among 30 have tested positive for COVID. There is no space available to separate the infected from others and setting up partitions is the only measure being taken.

Sakajiri Takashi, a caretaker at the shelter, said he wants the authorities to think more seriously about how to prevent diseases from spreading.

_______

• More students in quake-hit central Japan evacuate to continue studies

Over a hundred students from junior high schools in quake-hit Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan left their families Sunday to evacuate to a facility some 100 kilometers away to continue their studies.

The temporary relocation of the around 140 students from Suzu city and Noto town came after a similar move by students from Wajima in the prefecture last week in the wake of the magnitude-7.6 quake that struck the Noto Peninsula in the prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast on New Year's Day.

Although all junior high schools in Suzu and Noto are set to be reopened by Monday along with elementary schools, the parents of some of the students requested the transfer to ensure they can study in an adequately equipped environment.

In Suzu, where nine public elementary and junior high schools have already reopened, 102 of 199 students from four junior high schools will relocate to the facility in Kanazawa. The city's two remaining schools are set to resume classes on Monday.

At a public library where some of the students gathered for departure, some appeared happy to see their friends again, while parents anxiously watched their children board a large bus.

As the bus departed, the parents waved farewell amid cries of "Good luck" and "Take care."

In Noto, 40 of 247 students attending four junior high schools departed their hometown for the Kanazawa facility at their parents' requests, although all of the town's nine public elementary and junior high are scheduled to reopen on Monday.

On Wednesday, some 250 of the roughly 400 students from all three Wajima city-run junior high schools evacuated to two facilities in Hakusan in the prefecture's south.

In Wajima, classes will resume on Monday at the earliest using vacant classrooms at local junior high schools, according to the prefecture's education board.

_________

• Fishermen in quake-hit Noto ecstatic as they return to work

Fishermen in quake-hit Notojima island are in high spirits after they resumed fixed-net yellowtail fishing and began landing whoppers weighing more than 10 kilograms one after the other.

Now is the peak season for winter yellowtail.

The magnitude-7.6 earthquake on New Year’s Day caused widespread damage to the fishing industry centered around the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture.

Like fishermen elsewhere in the region, those operating out of Enome Fishing Port in Nanao city have had their share of hardship.

Despite damaged roads and water outages, they say they need to look to the future.

“We can’t keep looking down,” said one.

Shortly after 4 a.m. on Jan. 18, three fishing boats returned in quick succession from the pitch-dark waters off Notojima. In the light rain, the fishermen sorted through their catches with practiced hands.

Each boat landed dozens of yellowtail with fat white bellies and shipped them to the market in Kanazawa.

According to the prefectural government, 58 of the 69 fishing ports in the prefecture were damaged by the quake and tsunami. The damage to boats and fixed nets was extensive, and most of the ports have yet to reopen.

Enome fishing port was also forced to suspend fishing activities due to the loss of ice machines and other problems. However, ice trucks from the Kanazawa market were ready to transport ice, and fishing resumed on Jan. 10.

Most of Nanao city is expected to be without water for more than two months, making it difficult to secure ice.

Even so, Kazuyuki Sakamoto, 40, the owner of a fishing boat, said: “I am grateful to be able to go fishing. By going back to work, I hope Noto as a whole will start to regain its vitality.”

Obviously not.

long time

Originally Posted by S Landreth

recovery efforts continue

and will for a long time

Is this guy on meds?

For fucks sake, no one gives a fuck.

And Karma-wise, they had it coming. Fuckers still haven’t atoned for their barbarism in killing over 12 million civilians and captives.

again.......

Originally Posted by S Landreth

you don't like it, don't open it

Forgot one…..

• JR Nanao Line Resumes Services Linking Noto Peninsula to Kanazawa 3 Weeks After Massive Earthquake

Three weeks after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake hit Ishikawa Prefecture, services between Hakui and Nanao stations on JR Nanao Line resumed on Monday, connecting the peninsula to the prefectural capital of Kanazawa.

In the Okunoto area of the peninsula, classes resumed at some elementary and junior high schools on Monday, while a nursery school in Wajima began accepting children again. Residents of the quake-hit areas are gradually returning to their normal lives.

On Monday morning, Nanao Station on the namesake line, which normally runs between Tsubata and Wakura Onsen stations, was crowded with commuters.

“I’m happy because I can finally see my friends during the third term, my last term in high school,” a third-year high school student, 18, said before getting on the train.

The student, who lives in Nanao, was able to go to school on the day for the first time since the Jan. 1 earthquake, although her high school in the town of Tsubata has already started third term classes.

The operation of Thunderbird express trains between Osaka and Nanao stations also resumed on Monday. Railway operators, including West Japan Railway Co. (JR West), said they aim to resume more services in mid-February. These services cover the remaining section of the JR line, which is between Nanao and Wakura Onsen stations, and the Noto Railway-operated section, which is between Nanao and Noto Nakajima stations and runs along the coast of the peninsula.

However, even if services leading to Wakura Onsen Station are restored, business in the Wakura Onsen hot spring district, where there are 22 Japanese-style inns, is unlikely to return to normal soon. According to the Wakura Onsen Hotels Cooperative Association, some inns have suffered damage from the quake, with paving stones near their entrances shifted and the exterior walls cracked, exposing reinforcing steel. It is doubtful that most of the inns will be able to reopen by mid-February.

The start of the new school term had been postponed at some schools in the prefecture, and classes began at a total of 16 public elementary and junior high schools in five cities and towns, with two schools in Suzu and all nine schools in Noto reopening. Nine other schools in Suzu had already resumed classes, therefore all the schools in Suzu and Noto have now reopened.

In Wajima, where all 11 nursery facilities had been closed due to the quake, children returned to the Kawai nursery school, located near the morning market district, as its temporary care service resumed Monday.

“It’s helpful to be able to leave my children [at nursery school],” said a 33-year-old company employee of the city.

Is this Jap thing sex motivated?

^silly

one more article from yesterday

• Repairs may take more than 6 months at Central Japan nuclear plant after quake

The operator of the Shika nuclear power plant in central Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture says it may take more than six months to finish repairing the damage caused by the massive New Year's Day earthquake.

Hokuriku Electric Power Company has disclosed that the quake damaged transformers used to supply power to the plant from outside, and that two of five power cables have become unusable. The plant's two reactors have been offline since 2011.

The operator says electricity supply for the spent fuel pools and other important facilities is secure as it has emergency diesel generators and power supply vehicles that can be used even when the plant cannot receive electricity from outside.

The company also says larger-than-expected tremors hit the plant's foundation, but since the jolts lasted a relatively short cycle of 0.47 seconds, they didn't have a major impact on key structures, such as reactor containment vessels and reactor buildings.

The operator has also disclosed that tsunamis measuring up to 3-meters high reached the site several times and a backwash caused the seawater surface to recede by one meter.

The company says the waves did not cause safety problems at the plant, which is built 11 meters above sea level and has a 4-meter-tall seawall. Its water intake for cooling facilities is 6.5 meters below sea level.

The plant has experienced additional trouble after the quake. When the operator conducted a test-run of five emergency generators last Wednesday, one of them stopped automatically.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority has asked the operator to repair the damaged transformers and emergency generator swiftly, as well as to look into the cause of the trouble.

• Princess Kako Mourns Victims of Noto Peninsula Earthquake at Event for Mothers of Deaf Children in Tokyo

Princess Kako, the second daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, attended an event to praise mothers who raised children with hearing difficulties in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, on Monday.

At the beginning of her address at the 46th meeting to honor mothers who raised hearing impaired children, the princess mourned victims of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, using speech and sign language at the same time.

“My heart aches when I think of people living in such difficult circumstances,” the princess said, and then added in sign language, “I wish there will be a society where everyone can live with peace of mind.”