Finance
As rescue and search operations ramp up in response to worries about growing damage, the number of fatalities from the string of strong earthquakes that shook the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa earlier this week rose to 92 on Friday. At least 242 people are reported missing.
The worst-affected city of Wajima has reported 40 missing people out of the total, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo.
In order to work with the police and fire departments to expedite the search and establish the safety of the missing individuals, the Self-Defense Forces have also increased their efforts, including about 4,600 personnel, according to the Xinhua news agency.
An area of about 48,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of 4.5 football fields, was destroyed after a massive fire broke out in the centre of Wajima city during the temblors, Kyodo reported, citing the latest estimates from Geospatial Information Authority of Japan.
The delivery of essential supplies remains a challenge, with over 10 locations experiencing road closures due to landslides.
Meanwhile, over 700 people are stranded in isolated communities across the prefecture.
The region’s infrastructure has suffered severe setbacks, with around 30,000 households facing power outages and 80,000 others in 13 cities and towns experiencing water supply disruptions.
While some 33,000 people have stayed at about 370 evacuation centres in Ishikawa, issues related to sanitation, including access to toilets, have also emerged as pressing concerns, local media reports showed.
On Monday, a cluster of powerful earthquakes, including a massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake, occurred at shallow depths in the Noto area of Ishikawa.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has officially named it the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
The catastrophic earthquake, which was centered around 30 km to the east-northeast of Wajima, had a maximum strength of 7, making it hard for anyone to stand.
Source:IANS
