Devendra Kumar
As the rescue efforts continue in western Japan, a remarkable story has emerged of a 90-year-old woman being pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed house in Suzu city, Ishikawa prefecture, over 124 hours after the devastating earthquake struck. The magnitude 7.6 tremor, which hit the region on Monday, has so far claimed the lives of at least 126 people, with more than 500 others injured, including 27 seriously. The woman, who had been trapped for more than five days, was discovered by helmeted rescue workers covering the area with blue plastic, with the exact location of her hiding place not visible in national TV news footage.
Despite the challenging conditions, rescue teams have been working tirelessly to search for survivors, with several dramatic rescues reported over the past few days. The efforts of soldiers, firefighters, and others have been crucial in this widespread relief operation. One of the most heartbreaking cases is that of a five-year-old boy who had been recovering from injuries sustained when boiling water spilled on him during Monday’s earthquake. His condition suddenly worsened, and he died on Friday, according to Ishikawa prefecture, the hardest-hit region.
The earthquake has left a trail of destruction in its wake, with roofs collapsing, roads warped like rubber, and entire neighborhoods like Wajima city reduced to ashes. Over 200 people are still unaccounted for, although the number has fluctuated, with 11 people reported trapped under two homes that collapsed in Anamizu. The region is bracing for further aftershocks, which threaten to bury more homes and block crucial roads for relief shipments. Officials have warned that roads already cracked could collapse completely, particularly with rain and snow expected overnight and into Sunday.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of the disaster, Japan has received messages of condolence and aid from around the world, including an unusual expression of sympathy from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed gratitude for all the messages, including the one from Pyongyang, which was the first condolence message received from North Korea in 25 years.
Despite the challenges, rescue efforts are ongoing, with thousands of troops flying and trucking in essential supplies like water, food, and medicine to the over 30,000 people who have fled to auditoriums, schools, and other facilities. The national Yomiuri newspaper reported that its aerial study had located more than 100 landslides in the area, and some are blocking lifeline roads. As the relief operation continues, the focus remains on helping those affected by the disaster and rebuilding the region in the wake of this devastating earthquake.