TOKYO: U.S. military forces in Japan will be deployed in the earthquake-hit Noto area to help with relief efforts, sources said on Monday.
Details of the mission will to be announced later on Tuesday, the sources said on condition of anonymity as the plans have not yet been disclosed to the public.
More than 220 people have died in the January 1 earthquake in Japan. The quake destroyed thousands of homes roads and other infrastructure and knocked out power in the isolated area.
Authorities have been alarming survivors, many of whom are living in evacuation centers, to protect themselves against freezing temperatures with heavy snow hitting the area in recent days.
The 7.6 quake is Japan’s deadliest since 2016 when an earthquake in the southwestern region of Kumamoto claimed 276 lives. U.S. forces have been deployed in Japan since World War II, marking the country’s biggest military presence abroad.
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The earthquake has raised concerns about the risks associated with nuclear power in Japan. While minor damage was reported at some nuclear plants, operators assured there was no environmental danger.
Over 3,500 people remain isolated, with thousands in shelters, households without water, and power outages affecting more than 15,000.
Meanwhile, Japan’s government is mulling doubling budget reserves to 1 trillion yen ($6.9 billion) for the fiscal year 2024-25 starting April to cover the cost of earthquake reconstruction.
