Japan's western coastline grapples with mounting casualties as aftershocks continue, threatening more homes and critical relief routes, elevating the death toll to 126. Pics/ AP & AFP
A 5-year-old kid, who had been hurt in the original quake, was among the victims. His condition deteriorated and he died on Friday, adding to the devastating toll in the hardest-hit Ishikawa prefecture.
Already cracked roads, aggravated by ongoing tremors, face a heightened risk of collapse due to forecasted rain and snow, posing additional challenges for rescue efforts and aid delivery.
Wajima city reports the highest casualties at 69, followed by Suzu with 38 deaths, while over 500 individuals sustained injuries, with 27 in critical condition, underscoring the scale of devastation.
The earthquakes left roofs strewn across roads and buildings flattened, with fire ravaging entire neighbourhoods, compounding the region's destruction.
Over 200 individuals remain unaccounted for, although this figure fluctuates, with 11 people reportedly trapped beneath collapsed homes in Anamizu, intensifying search and rescue efforts.
Survivors grapple with the emotional toll of loss and displacement, as recounted by Shiro Kokuda, 76, who navigates the ruins while searching for friends at evacuation centres, reflecting the widespread anguish.
The earthquakes strike at the heart of an already fragile economy in Ishikawa, heavily reliant on crafts and tourism, compounding the region's vulnerabilities amidst a declining population.
Notable messages of condolence and aid pledges arrive from unexpected quarters, including North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, alongside President Joe Biden and other allies, acknowledging the severity of the disaster.
With power gradually restored but water supplies still scarce, thousands of troops mobilize to deliver essentials to over 30,000 evacuees, navigating numerous landslides blocking crucial roads, intensifying the urgency of rescue efforts.
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