Japan Pledges "Uninterrupted" Support for Earthquake-Affected Areas... Snow Disrupts Relief Efforts

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged today, Sunday, to provide "uninterrupted" support for areas devastated by the earthquake that occurred at the start of the new year, as snow and frost hinder rescue and relief efforts. Local media reported that the disaster has so far resulted in at least 126 deaths. Bad weather conditions in the Noto Peninsula have increased the troubles for survivors in the region, where the earthquake, measuring 7.6 in magnitude, displaced over 30,000 people and cut electricity to tens of thousands of households and businesses. At least 222 people are still missing, and more snow and heavy rain are expected overnight in the area. Footage broadcast by the national broadcaster NHK showed construction trucks digging through piles of earth rising three meters to uncover homes buried by landslides. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated in a program for Japanese public television today that "rescuing those trapped under the rubble and responding to isolated areas are issues that must be prioritized." Kishida had said on Friday that his government would allocate 4.74 billion yen (32.77 million dollars) from budget reserves for reconstruction efforts. The governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, where Noto Peninsula is located, declared a state of emergency yesterday, Saturday, describing the earthquake as an "unprecedented disaster" for the region, according to Japanese public radio. In the city of Wajima, on the northern coast of the peninsula, a line of cars extended as far as the eye could see at a gas station as fuel supplies gradually returned to the area.