NOTO PENINSULA, Japan: Rescuers in Japan are in a race against time to locate 242 individuals missing following a powerful New Year’s Day earthquake. The critical 72-hour window to find survivors ended late on Thursday, with the death toll from the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in the remote Noto peninsula rising to 92 by Friday.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have doubled the number of troops involved in rescue and relief efforts to 4,600, as many are believed to be trapped under collapsed homes, particularly in the towns of Suzu and Wajima. The wooden structures were not constructed to withstand such potent earthquakes, a frequent challenge in the country.
Tens of thousands of residents remain without power and water, while hundreds are isolated due to landslides and blocked roads. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, determined not to give up, urged rescue and relief workers to spare no effort in reaching the affected communities.
The earthquake triggered a small tsunami, flooding approximately 296 acres (120 hectares) of land. Japan has allocated 4.74 billion yen ($34 million; £27 million) in budget reserves to assist the victims.
Photos from the Japan Ground Self Defense Force depict troops loading essential supplies onto trucks and clearing debris from landslide-hit roads. The scenes of destruction in Wajima reveal collapsed homes and vehicles, transforming the town into a ghostly landscape as most residents heeded early evacuation warnings.
