Thread: Strong quake prompts tsunami warning Japan

• Train services in quake-hit Noto Peninsula partially restored

Railway services on the Noto Peninsula partially resumed on Thursday, six weeks after the deadly New Year's Day earthquake forced their suspension.

The Noto Railway had track bent and suffered other damage in the powerful quake that hit the peninsula in Ishikawa prefecture.

The firm had suspended services along the entire line but on Thursday resumed them for about half the service area, stretching from Notonakajima to Nanao stations.

The first train to leave Notonakajima station carried about 20 passengers, including high school students. Railway employees and locals saw them off.

The company says it is reducing the number of trains to about half of normal, and limiting the maximum speed of the train to 45 kilometers per hour for extra safety.

The firm says it aims to resume the service for the rest of the line in the first half of April despite severe damage in some places. A section of track that ends at Anamizu station, for example, has been buried in the earth.

Another train line, the JR Nanao Line, also completed restoring its services on Thursday. That allows express trains to connect the area with the busier Kansai region or Kanazawa City.

A high school student who used a Noto Railway train says she is happy her parents no longer need to drive her to her destination.

Nakata Tetsuya, President of the Noto Railway, said he was encouraged when he heard the sound of a train engine in service for the first time in a while.

He said that although reconstruction is still only partly done, Thursday's service resumption is a big step forward.

• Japan Post accepting packages addressed to quake-hit areas

Japan Post is now accepting mail packages for residents in quake-hit areas with eight post offices open in Ishikawa Prefecture's Wajima City, Suzu City, Noto Town, and Anamizu Town.

People will need to collect the packages in person as delivery services remain suspended due to extensive damage to post office buildings, roads, and other facilities during the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day.

Starting from February 15, packages can be sent from anywhere in Japan to the following post offices:

Wajima City

・Wajima Post Office
・Monzen Post Office
・Machino Post Office

Suzu City

・Suzu Post Office

Noto Town

・Noto Post Office
・Matsunami Post Office
・Yanagida Post Office

Anamizu Town

・Anamizu Post Office

The Anamizu Post Office is operating out of a temporary facility on the same premises as its damaged building.

Japan Post is requesting that mailers contact addressees to let them know a package is on its way. People are also encouraged to monitor tracking numbers.

• Under 10% of registered volunteers actually working in central Japan quake-hit areas

The number of civilian volunteers working in areas hit by the devastating New Year's Day earthquake totaled 2,205 as of Feb. 13, less than one-tenth of the approximately 25,000 who had preregistered, the Ishikawa Prefectural Government announced on Feb. 14.

The low number of volunteers is said to be due to the long hours of travel required to get to the disaster-hit areas and the lack of sufficient local preparedness, such as a shortage of portable toilets.

Since Jan. 27, volunteers have been traveling by bus from Kanazawa and other cities to regions hit by the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake, cleaning up houses and providing support at evacuation centers on day trips.

About 250 volunteers per day are working in eight cities and towns, including Wajima. However, the round trip to Suzu, Ishikawa's northernmost city, takes about 8 1/2 hours, limiting actual working time there to a few hours. The prefectural government is planning to push back the departure time of the buses on the return trip and establish accommodation bases closer to the affected areas in order to expand the duration of the volunteer activities.

Another factor hindering activity is the need for residents to be present when people clean up their homes. This is not easy, however, because many of them are living in shelters. A member of Wajima's social welfare council, which accepts volunteers only on weekends, explained, "There are many disaster victims who can only return home on weekends, and the administrative side, which acts as the coordinator, lacks workers."

Takuma Kita, 24, a farmer from Gojo, Nara Prefecture, who volunteered in Suzu on Feb. 14 and removed tatami mats from damaged houses, said, "I could only work for four hours today because of the long bus ride. If more volunteers could go there, the cleanup work would progress, but we don't have the manpower. I hope the situation will improve and things will get better little by little."

• Second Meeting of the Headquarters for Supporting Recovery and Reconstruction from the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake

On February 16, 2024, Prime Minister Kishida held the second meeting of the headquarters for supporting recovery and reconstruction from the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, the participants engaged in discussions on efforts toward recovery and reconstruction and other matters.

• Noto Peninsula quake leaves foreign residents feeling isolated

For many of the 17,000 foreign residents in Ishikawa Prefecture, January's Noto Peninsula earthquake has highlighted difficulties that are causing isolation and unease.

Brazilians left in the dark

Brazil-born Leo Tachibana was at home in Anamizu Town when the disaster struck. He has been in and out of Japan for work over the past two decades. Leo has no problem communicating in Japanese at work and has put down roots in his adopted neighborhood that is home to a 90-strong Brazilian population.

But the events on New Year's Day changed everything.

When the municipal emergency broadcast called on people to evacuate, the words were too technical for him to understand. The only word he caught was "tsunami."

Leo and some fellow Brazilians managed to reach an evacuation center, but he says, "We could not fully understand what we needed to do to stay safe."

With the help of friends, he was able to evacuate to Fukui Prefecture three days later, but he still had difficulty accessing essential information.

Leo did not know that Ishikawa Prefecture's website has emergency information translated in multiple languages, including Portuguese.

In February, Leo will move again to start work at a factory in another prefecture. He needs a few months to get back on his feet and hopes to return to Anamizu.

Access to multilingual information

Tamura Taro, a specialist in crisis communications for foreigners, says that many people feel disadvantaged in terms of getting basic and vital information. Just after the disaster, he visited several evacuation centers in Nanao City and Noto Town. He saw there were hardly any signboards — or information — in anything other than Japanese.

At evacuation shelters, complicated information is shared orally or in written form with few translations. Prefectural authorities provide emergency information in multiple languages via phone services or on websites.

Tamura explains the multilingual services are sometimes unknown, or used so infrequently that people don't think to use them in case of a disaster. He wants local governments to reach out to social networking sites that foreigners use regularly.

Tamura says an existing multilingual sheet system, created by the Japanese government and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), could be useful.

• Fire that ruined Wajima market likely began with damaged wires

Quake-damaged electrical wiring was the likely ignition point of the inferno that destroyed the popular Wajima Asaichi market in Ishikawa Prefecture, a Fire and Disaster Management Agency report said Feb. 15.

An electrical fire is believed to have started in a building located in the southwestern part of the market in Wajima shortly after the Noto Peninsula earthquake struck on Jan. 1, according to the report.

No fire-using appliances were running in the building, and the electrical wiring inside had melted, the report said.

The fire spread and eventually consumed a total area of about 49,000 square meters while destroying about 240 buildings. The blaze was finally extinguished in the evening of Jan. 6.

The investigation, which is continuing, is being conducted by the agency’s National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster in cooperation with the local fire department and the Ishikawa prefectural police.

The fire was detected at 5:23 p.m. on Jan. 1, more than an hour after the magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck.

Within three hours, the flames had spread 150 meters both north and south from the point of origin, an analysis of photographs and videos of the fire shows.

The fire had spread an estimated 300 meters east from the point of origin by 4 a.m. the following day.

Two buildings in the area caught fire from flying sparks at around the same time, fueling the movement of the flames in this direction.

The agency said it is still trying to determine how the fire spread northward.

It took half a day to bring the fire under control and five days to extinguish it completely.

The agency said wide roads, parking lots and other open spaces, as well as fire-resistant buildings, helped to prevent the fire from spreading further.

• Departure Deadline Approaching for Noto Quake Evacuees in Hotels

Evacuees staying at hotels and inns following the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in the central Japan prefecture of Ishikawa on Jan. 1 face a fast-approaching deadline for finding other places to stay.

The hotels and inns that acted as secondary evacuation sites for such people are in a difficult situation as the planned extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen high-speed train line from Kanazawa in Ishikawa to Tsuruga in neighboring Fukui Prefecture on March 16 is expected to lead to a surge in the number of bookings.

Meanwhile, it is proving hard for evacuees to find new places to stay, causing widespread anxiety.

The Ishikawa prefectural government had encouraged evacuees to move to secondary evacuation sites in order to prevent quake-related deaths at primary evacuation sites such as makeshift evacuation centers at schools. As of Friday, more than 5,200 evacuees were staying at secondary evacuation sites south of Kanazawa.

This month, the prefecture launched information sessions and consultation events about future accommodation for evacuees.

• Japan emperor, empress to visit quake-hit Noto Peninsula

Arrangements are being made for Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to visit the Noto Peninsula, possibly in late March, to meet with people affected by the powerful earthquake that struck the central Japan region on New Year's Day, an Imperial Household Agency source said Wednesday.

The imperial couple are expected to fly to Ishikawa Prefecture to see the hard-hit cities of Suzu and Wajima, among other locations. They may use a helicopter to travel due to road damage, the source said.

The emperor and empress have expressed their desire to visit the area as soon as possible to console in person those affected but without hindering recovery efforts following the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck the region on the Sea of Japan coast, claiming more than 240 lives.

The imperial couple visited Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures in December 2019 after the region was devastated by Typhoon Faxai.

• NPO offers accommodation for volunteers in quake-hit Wajima, central Japan

A non-profit organization in Wajima City, which was devastated by the New Year's Day earthquake, has started providing accommodation for volunteers who are helping with the city's cleanup and other recovery efforts.

The city in Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan began accepting volunteers on February 10. But due to a shortage of water supply and the limited availability of lodging in the city, volunteers had to commute from Kanazawa City by bus each day which reduced the amount of time they could spend on their activities.

The NPO, Wajima Asaichi, has now prepared a two-story building for volunteers to stay in. The building had been used as a warehouse.

One of the volunteers is a university student from Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo. He says he expected their accommodation would be similar to sleeping outside but that he does not feel inconvenienced in the building.

On Saturday, three volunteers lodging there worked with staff of a confectionary shop to salvage wrapping paper and other goods from a warehouse whose roof had collapsed.

Nakaura Masakatsu of the NPO says volunteers are able to do a lot more if they stay in the city and don't have to commute. He says the organization is looking for more places where other volunteers will be able to stay.

• Crowdfunding emerges as major relief source in wake of central Japan quake

Seventy crowdfunding projects have raised some 430 million yen (about $2.86 million) from approximately 22,000 contributors in just a month and a half since the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake.

The amount reported by crowdfunding platform Readyfor Inc. is over 30 times that collected in the aftermath of the tremors that struck Kumamoto prefecture in 2016. Following the Kumamoto quakes, 10 crowdfunding projects managed to collect some 14 million yen (roughly $93,000) in support funds.

The latest figures indicate that crowdfunding has been gaining serious momentum as a source of support for areas hit by the recent temblor.

Disaster relief support infrastructure

Readyfor spokesperson Yuki Sato, 27, told the Mainichi Shimbun, "Compared to previous disasters, projects are starting up faster and the amounts are larger. Crowdfunding is becoming entrenched as infrastructure for disaster relief support."

Furthermore, Sato notes, "There's been an increase in projects initiated by businesses in the disaster-stricken areas for their own recovery." Among these are efforts to preserve local traditions, such as one to rebuild the lacquerware industry in badly damaged Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, and another to repair the Shiroyone Senmaida terraced fields to resume rice cultivation.

Why crowdfunding?

One factor contributing to the growing use of crowdfunding is its flexibility compared to national and municipal subsidies and grants. For the disaster-stricken areas, there's the benefit of being able to set the necessary amount themselves and quickly raise funds by consolidating the process.

Keiju Medical Center in the prefectural city of Nanao successfully raised its target amount of 100 million yen (around $666,000) in about a month with a crowdfunding drive launched on Jan. 5.

Moreover, for those providing support, there's the advantage of being able to see how the money is being used and the progress of reconstruction projects through websites and other channels. Sato said, "I think the high level of transparency has led to positive results."

Similar initiatives are also being carried out on crowdfunding platforms Campfire Inc., where over 140 million yen (approx. $932,000) has been raised for a total of 45 projects such as the reconstruction of heritage homes, and Makuake Inc., where some 65 million yen (about $433,000) has been raised for five projects.

Widespread liquefaction hampers reconstruction after M7.6 earthquake in Ishikawa, Japan

In the aftermath of the January 1 earthquake, the city of Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture faces significant challenges due to liquefaction, severely impacting infrastructure and complicating relief efforts. Continuous aftershocks further hinder the restoration process, with houses, roads, and manholes notably affected. Governor Hiroshi Hase has requested a comprehensive investigation from the central government to address the escalating situation, emphasizing the need for seismic reinforcement of underground infrastructure.

In the wake of the January 1, 2024 M7.6 earthquake in Japan, the city of Wajima, located in Ishikawa Prefecture, has been severely impacted by liquefaction, a phenomenon that reduces the strength of soil due to seismic activity, particularly affecting coastal areas.

This has significantly hampered relief and restoration efforts in the region, with continuous aftershocks further complicating the situation. Liquefaction has led to visible and dramatic changes in the landscape, including protruding manholes, tilted or partially buried houses, and deformed roads.

Fumihiko Imamura, a professor at Tohoku University’s International Research Institute of Disaster Science, explains that liquefaction occurs when moisture in the soil breaks loose from grains of soil due to the shaking caused by an earthquake. This process can cause water to rise up, leading to the surfacing of sand on land and the elevation of manholes.

The phenomenon was not limited to Wajima but was also severe in cities like Suzu in Ishikawa, and extended across a wide area of the Sea of Japan coast, affecting regions from Uchinada near Kanazawa to Niigata and Joetsu in Niigata Prefecture. Notably, during the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, areas far from the epicenter, such as reclaimed land in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, also experienced liquefaction, indicating the widespread potential for this phenomenon.

Ishikawa’s Governor, Hiroshi Hase, called for a comprehensive investigation into the liquefaction phenomenon, especially in Uchinada, recognizing that the town requires support for such a large-scale study. The restoration of manhole covers and underground sewage pipes, which are critical for the area’s infrastructure, necessitates specialized repairs.

One of the overarching challenges highlighted by the earthquake’s aftermath is the lack of seismic reinforcement across many of Japan’s pipelines. As of the end of March 2022, out of 86 594 km of major pipelines requiring seismic reinforcement, only about 55% had been reinforced.

Imamura points out that Japan’s disaster response tends to be reactive, based on experiences from previous events. However, the unique challenges posed by liquefaction, which can overlap with other disaster types like earthquakes and tsunamis, demand a more proactive and prepared approach.

The reconstruction in the Tohoku region post-3/11 was accelerated by the tsunami’s cleansing effect, but the recovery from liquefaction presents a more complex challenge, requiring long-term efforts to solidify the ground and restore the affected areas fully.

• Japan's Emperor Naruhito mourns the deadly Noto quake in a solemn birthday speech

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito made his first speech to the nation since a deadly earthquake hit the north-central region of Koto, with a message marking his 64th birthday on Friday.

The ceremonial monarch expressed grief for people affected by the Jan. 1 earthquake, praying for their recovery and saying he hoped to visit the region to console them.

Naruhito’s last scheduled national address, an annual New Year event, was canceled because of the quake. The emperor and his wife have not yet visited the disaster zone. The palace told NHK Television that the couple feared a visit would disrupt recovery efforts, and are currently planning a trip in late March.

Cheering well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo despite cold, rainy weather.

“I would like once again to express my condolences to those who lost their lives in the Noto Peninsula earthquake last month and to convey my heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families and those who were affected by the disaster,” Naruhito said from a balcony, accompanied by his wife, Empress Masako, their only child Aiko and other relatives. “I wish every one of you a peaceful spring.”

The magnitude 7.6 quake on New Year’s Day killed 241 people and drove more than 12,000 people from their homes. Nine people are still missing. Reconstruction has come slowly in a largely rural area with an aging population, known for Wajima lacquerware and other handicrafts.

A video released Friday by the Imperial Household Agency showed Naruhito and Masako admiring lacquerware boxes from Noto, with a big round lacquer tray and a Suzu pottery vase, also from the region, placed behind them.

Naruhito, in a pre-recorded press conference released Friday, also said he hoped to visit the area with Masako when the local situation allows.

“The difficult situation is continuing, but I sincerely hope many people will provide support for the steady progress of recovery and reconstruction,” Naruhito said.

Naruhito, who will mark the fifth anniversary of his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, said he has sought to stay as close to the people as possible. But that’s slow going for the traditionally remote Japanese monarchy: a proposal to open social media accounts for the Imperial family has been under discussion since last year.

Since the Noto earthquake, he’s made only one other public appearance, at an event marking the 150th anniversary of the Tokyo police in mid-January.

Naruhito also acknowledged that the number of royals who can perform public duties is on the decline.

The imperial household is shrinking rapidly, owing to rules that allow only men to inherit the throne and expel female royals who marry outside the family. Naruhito currently has only two younger potential successors — his brother Akishino, 58, and his nephew Hisahito, 17. A third potential heir, his uncle Prince Hitachi, is 88.

The situation has raised questions about the future of Japan’s monarchy and triggered calls to allow female royals to remain in the family after marriage or inherit the throne. The conservative governing party is discussing proposals that would allow more people to remain in the family but keep male-only inheritance.

“The situation is a matter that is related to the future of the Imperial Family,” Naruhito said, but declined to comment on the system. The Japanese emperor is not allowed to comment on politics.

• Kishida pledges to expand aid to Noto quake areas

The central government will further expand its aid to those affected by the New Year's Day earthquake that rocked the Noto Peninsula, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during his visit to the disaster area Saturday.

"We will work together to help people in disaster areas to restore their normal lives," Kishida said at an evacuation center in the town of Anamizu, Ishikawa Prefecture.

The prime minister apparently intends to reflect firsthand opinions from affected people in the government's restoration and reconstruction support measures.

This is Kishida's second visit to the area hit by the 7.6-magnitude earthquake.

An elderly man at the evacuation center told the prime minister that about 540 people hope to move into 280 planned reconstruction housing units.

Kishida said that the government will "firmly support" the construction of such housing, adding that fiscal concerns should not hinder the project.

Later in the day, Kishida traveled to the city of Wajima, in Ishikawa, and viewed damage to the Shiroyone Senmaida terraced rice fields that overlook the Sea of Japan.

Video in the link

• Baseball raises spirits for Noto

It has been 50 days since the New Year's Day earthquake in Japan's Noto Peninsula. Intense recovery efforts are continuing. However, there is a beacon of hope. The baseball team of a local high school has been selected to compete in a national tournament. This report explores the students' dreams of winning for their hometown, while living as evacuees.

• Quake-hit Ishikawa in Japan seeks to continue helping victims while attracting tourists

The section between Kanazawa and Tsuruga in Fukui prefecture on the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train is set to open on March 16.

The extension of the line which connects Tokyo and Kanazawa is expected to be a catalyst for tourism in Ishikawa and Fukui prefectures.

But people remain living in many lodging facilities in the prefectures in the aftermath of the Jan 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake, making it a challenge for the region to strike a balance between relief efforts and tourism.

“We would never force you out,” Mr Hisahiko Yoshida, president of resort-hotel Kaga Hyakumangoku in Kaga in Ishikawa prefecture, told evacuees at a dinner hall on Feb 11.

The hotel has been offering all its guest rooms to more than 300 evacuees.

He also explained plans to renovate the hotel’s employee dormitory and open it to evacuees.

“We have a responsibility to help evacuees rebuild their lives to the end,” he added. “But, at the same time, we need to accept tourists. Otherwise, souvenir shops and restaurants will not be able to survive, and the appeal of the entire tourist area will decline.”

Hotels in the prefecture had been preparing for an increase in tourists ahead of the extension of the Shinkansen line. The Development Bank of Japan estimates the extended services will bring 27.9 billion yen (S$248 million) of direct economic benefits to Ishikawa.

However, after the earthquake, everything changed. By the end of January, more than 160,000 reservations were cancelled at six hot spring resorts in the prefecture.

As of Jan 16, 5,275 people were staying in 245 inns and hotels – secondary evacuation sites – in and outside of Ishikawa. Accommodation costs are covered by the central government based on the Disaster Relief Law, but the length of stay is determined by the prefectural government and the facilities.

• Noto Oyster Back on Sale in Nanao, Ishikawa Pref. Back in Business

Employees at the Yamashita Suisan oyster farm shuck “Noto kaki” oysters, a local delicacy, in Nanao, Ishikawa Prefecture. The company suffered severe damage from the tsunami triggered by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on Jan. 1, with more than half of its oyster racks washed away, but it resumed sales late last month. On Tuesday, it also began offering grilled oysters at the restaurant next to its sales outlet.

• Japan to spend extra USD660M in quake relief

Japan will spend an additional USD660 million rebuilding areas ravaged by a devastating New Year’s Day earthquake, its prime minister said, taking the total amount of quake relief to USD1.7 billion.

The magnitude-7.5 earthquake and its aftershocks devastated parts of the Ishikawa region on the Sea of Japan coast, toppling buildings, ripping up roads and sparking a major fire.

So far 241 people were confirmed to have been killed by the disaster, with more than 10,000 people taking refuge at shelters and hotels, and water still cut off in some parts of Ishikawa.

The new financial aid was announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday as he visited the quake-hit areas to assess the situation.

“The living conditions at temporary shelters are improving, but I will bear in mind that the reality remains tough as ever”, Kishida told reporters at the hardest-hit city of Wajima.

The inspection “renewed the government’s determination to work toward providing more support”, he said.

Kishida said the additional spending of around JPY100 billion from the current fiscal year’s reserve funds — used for disaster relief and other contingencies — is set to be approved by his Cabinet in the coming days.

This will mark the third allocation of the emergency funds to efforts to recover from the New Year’s Day quake, with the amount now expected to total over JPY260 billion.

The latest funds are designed in part to finance a subsidy system that seeks to help young and child-rearing families rebuild their destroyed homes, Kishida said.

The prime minister added efforts would be sped up to construct prefabricated temporary housing, while vowing more support for Wajima’s traditional artifact industry known for exquisite lacquerware.

Damage from the quake in Ishikawa and two neighbouring regions is likely to cost between JPY1.1 trillion and JPY2.6 trillion, according to a government estimate as of last month.

But even the top estimate is much less than the JPY16.9 trillion damage caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

That disaster left around 18,500 people dead or missing and triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima atomic plant, the world’s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

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• City planners discuss Noto reconstruction amid shrinking population

A group of city planning experts has held a symposium on how to reconstruct the quake-hit Noto Peninsula, with one expert stressing the need for plans that reflect the declining population of the region.

The event was held in Tokyo by the City Planning Institute of Japan on Saturday.

An official from the land, infrastructure and transport ministry opened the discussion by touching on the serious population decline in the northern Oku-Noto region that was already underway before the earthquake.

He said that in some parts of the region, people aged 65 and older account for more than 50 percent of residents, and the population is expected to decrease by half by 2045.

Ubaura Michio, a professor at Tohoku University and a city planning expert, cited examples seen in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

He pointed out that privately-owned land in quake-affected areas tends to remain vacant after residents evacuated.

Ubaura said it is important for officials to look ahead to the possibility for such land to be used for public housing or parks.

He also expressed the need to set up teams of local researchers and others to carefully look into the will of residents affected by the disaster and proceed with reconstruction plans accordingly.

The professor cites the need to reflect the will of residents while concentrating communities.

Ubaura said one of the characteristics of the Noto Earthquake is that areas devastated by the disaster had already been suffering declining populations.

He said experience from past disasters, including the 2011 quake, and measures taken to address them must be utilized when considering ways to reconstruct the Noto Peninsula.

• Over 10,000 evacuees remain in shelters 8 weeks after Noto quake

More than 10,000 people are still staying in shelters eight weeks after the powerful New Year's Day earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula, central Japan.

As of last Thursday, the confirmed figure of houses in Ishikawa Prefecture that were damaged by the quake had risen to 75,661.

Efforts are underway to remove debris, restore water supplies, and build temporary housing in the quake-hit prefecture. But about 21,880 homes and businesses, mainly in the Noto region, were still without running water.

A major challenge is how to continue providing support for the evacuees.

On Sunday, a volunteer group of university students visited a shelter in Suzu City. They set up a foot bath for evacuees and spent time with them.

An evacuee said the students' visit made her happy and energized her.

But some shelters are getting less support. A shelter in Wajima City has been preparing lunch and dinner for 140 evacuees every day.

The shelter has been relying on support from restaurants and organizations in Ishikawa and other areas. One resident expressed gratitude, saying the hot meals are heartwarming. But the shelter has received fewer offers of help from next month onwards.

People affected by the quake have to shoulder greater burdens on their own.

Starting Friday, the city of Wajima will only deliver aid supplies to designated shelters, due to an expected reduction in the number of officials overseeing the operation.

• Demolitions underway after New Year's Day quake in central Japan

Workers have begun demolishing buildings hard-hit by the New Year's Day earthquake in central Japan's Suzu City. The structures being leveled are among the more than 75,000 in Ishikawa Prefecture damaged in the disaster.

One such home in Suzu City was left leaning toward the road, posing a danger to passersby.

The owner, Sato Sumio, said, "We wanted to keep living here. I am so filled with regret."

Officials in this city of about 12,000 people say more than 50 buildings have been left in a state of serious risk of further damage.

Meanwhile, nearly 22,000 homes and businesses are still without running water around the Noto Peninsula, one of the hardest hit areas.

But in Wajima City, which has a population of nearly 23,000, a dental clinic has partly resumed service.

City officials and others are helping supply water.

A patient said, "I'm really so happy. There is a much greater feeling of safety. That is the best thing."

The dentist said, "People haven't been able to get the treatment they need. I want to support them in this time of emergency."

Eight weeks after the quake, more than 10,000 people in affected areas are still living in shelters. Some are said to be suffering from gum infections and other ailments caused by poor hygiene.

• Niigata city to demolish school building that shifted in quake

The Niigata City Education Board decided to demolish a school building that was severely damaged in the Noto Peninsula earthquake, whose epicenter was around 150 kilometers away.

A temporary prefabricated building will be constructed on the grounds of the Sakaiwa Junior High School in the city’s Nishi Ward over the next year or so. Plans for a new school building will also be considered.

The Jan. 1 earthquake created an intensity of upper 5 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7 in Nishi Ward.

According to the education board, the quake damaged the school’s three-story south building and the adjacent four-story north building.

The board said the north building can be repaired.

However, the entire south building had shifted 12 centimeters southward, and the piles supporting the building are cracked and tilting.

The Jan. 1 earthquake caused liquefaction in Niigata city, a phenomenon in which soil rich in groundwater loosens in the shaking, resulting in sinking and tilting of structures, including the south building.

School classes resumed on Jan. 11.

Third-year students and those in the special needs class are attending nearby Shindori Elementary School, while first- and second-year students are participating online.

Starting in April, new first-year students will attend Shindori Elementary School, while new second- and third-year students will study in the north building.

• Revealed – how many claims resulted from the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake?

The General Insurance Association of Japan (GIAJ) has released statistics on the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, providing a detailed breakdown of insurance claims processed up to January 31, 2024.

The data encompasses claims from various prefectures, including Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui, as well as other regions affected.

Noto Peninsula earthquake figures

According to the GIAJ, the total number of claims accepted from policyholders reached 76,497. These claims cover a range of requests, from investigations of damage to residential properties and belongings to consultations and inquiries regarding earthquake insurance coverage. The total number of investigations completed by the association and its member companies stood at 38,533.

The report also detailed the number of claim payments made, totalling 25,246 across the affected areas. The cumulative amount disbursed in claim payments amounted to approximately 20.53 billion yen.

Areas with the highest claim payments

Ishikawa Prefecture reported the highest number of claim payments, amounting to over 8 billion yen, followed by Toyama and Niigata Prefectures, with payments totalling approximately 6.49 billion yen and 5.25 billion yen, respectively.

Fukui Prefecture and other regions saw smalle amounts disbursed, with figures standing at around 351 million yen and 357 million yen.

The figures represent a collaborative effort between the GIAJ, the Foreign Non-Life Insurance Association of Japan, and other related entities.

The number of accepted claims reflects various types of assistance sought by policyholders, while the count of completed investigations illustrates the extent of claims processing undertaken in the wake of the disaster.

• Only 45 quake-hit foreign trainees in Japan allowed to do other jobs

A mere 45 foreign trainees affected by a powerful earthquake in central Japan have been granted permission to work outside their designated workplaces about a month after exceptional measures started, immigration authorities revealed Sunday.

A support group for foreign technical interns pointed out that the measures of the Immigration Services Agency have not been widely known among the trainees yet, and there are likely more foreigners in need who could take advantage of the exceptions, which allow them to work for other employers for three months.

According to a support group in Ishikawa Prefecture, many trainees told the organization that they were not aware of the extraordinary measures until being informed by the organization. Several trainees told Kyodo News that they had never heard of such measures.

In the prefecture, around 670 foreign technical interns reside in six municipalities severely impacted by the disaster. Many businesses in the area have suspended operations due to the damage inflicted by the magnitude-7.6 quake, which struck the Noto Peninsula and its vicinity along the Sea of Japan coast on New Year's Day.

Usually, international students in the country apply for the measures to work part-time temporarily, but considering the situation in the disaster-hit area, the same measures have been applied to technical interns for the first time as a disaster-response exception upon the request of local businesses.

The immigration agency said that it has received a certain number of applications for the measures, providing trainees with an available option.

An official of a supervising organization, which acts as a broker and monitors companies that accept foreign trainees, said, "It is difficult to find employers that can accept them immediately," highlighting the need for collaboration between government ministries and agencies to address the issue.

Subject to the latest exceptional measures are those in 47 cities, towns and villages in Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui prefectures, where about 15,000 trainees were residing as of June last year.

Many of the 45 trainees who have been granted permission to work outside their designated employment live in Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures.

The Japanese government intends to replace its controversial trainee program for foreigners, established in 1993 to transfer skills to developing countries, with a new program. It aims to enhance rights protections, increase flexibility for changing jobs, and implement stricter oversight.

• Japan authorities take steps to help volunteers in quake-hit Ishikawa Pref.

People from across Japan want to offer a helping hand in quake-hit Ishikawa Prefecture. About 26,000 individuals have registered as volunteers.

But logistical problems mean fewer than 2,800 of them have actually set foot in the disaster zone.

Banjo Shigeo's home in Suzu City was damaged by the massive quake on New Year's Day.

A back injury sidelined him for about three weeks, and volunteers were seen helping out at the house. Banjo said the volunteers are very efficient and helpful.

If the volunteers were stationed nearby, they would be able to make even more of a difference. But they have been compelled to travel to affected areas by bus from Kanazawa City.

A one-way journey can take several hours. On Monday, authorities extended transportation services, so that people can work for at least four hours a day.

A volunteer said, "We had to leave even though it was still bright. We could've done more here. So yes, the extension is welcome."

Hase Hiroshi, the governor of Ishikawa, is trying to secure accommodations for the volunteers and workers rebuilding the prefecture's infrastructure.

One plan involves building prefabricated housing. Quake-hit local hotels and inns will be paid to handle operations.

Hase said, "Demand for accommodation will likely rise because there are more volunteers here. We need to secure and prepare more places they can stay, so disaster-hit areas can be quickly restored."

The quake damaged more than 70,000 homes in Ishikawa.

Many areas, such as a district in Wajima City, were cut off. Most of the 700 residents have now evacuated. Only six remain.

Omukai Minoru and his wife are two of them. They have been without running water since the earthquake struck. Omukai said that he feels as if everybody else has deserted them.

Landslides blocked a road connecting the district with the city center.

Another resident said the route must be reopened as soon as possible. He said he fears the community's young people may never return.

• Japan Post resumes deliveries to parts of quake-hit areas in central Japan

Japan Post has resumed mail deliveries to parts of Ishikawa Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast that were hit by a powerful earthquake on January 1.

Deliveries of letters and parcels have been suspended in the prefecture's Suzu and Wajima cities and the towns of Anamizu and Noto since the quake.

On Tuesday morning, deliveries resumed in about three quarters of Suzu City and all of Noto Town.

However, the company's Hokuriku branch explained that mail will not be delivered even in areas where service has resumed if there is a risk of buildings collapsing or other dangers.

An official at a welfare facility in Suzu City welcomed the resumption of the service. The person said they had to go to a local post office to get mail before.

An official at a post office in the city said they will work to resume deliveries to all areas.

Mail continues to be receivable at local post offices in areas where deliveries have yet to restart.

Japan Post says it plans to restore services to wider areas depending on local road conditions.