UX reporters visited four municipalities that sustained major damage: Suzu City, Wajima City, Nanao City, and Noto Town. While infrastructure is gradually being restored, there are also obstacles to full-scale recovery. On January 1, the Noto Peninsula earthquake recorded a seismic intensity of 6+ in Suzu City. Even a month and a half after the earthquake, collapsed buildings were still left almost untouched. 109 people died, many of whom were crushed under collapsed buildings. Many homes are still without power or water, and about 1,200 people are forced to live in evacuation centers. What stood out in Suzu City was the damage caused by the tsunami. ■Reporter Ikegawa: "There are traces of the tsunami everywhere in the Kasugano district. There are cars that were swept away by the tsunami left in the river over there." The tsunami reached the coastal Kasugano district one minute after the earthquake, and is believed to have reached a maximum height of 3 meters. This is Hidekuni Ebata, whose home was damaged by the tsunami. ■Ikegawa: "Has the water already reached the floor level?" ■Ebata Hidekuni: "Yes." The soil and sand carried by the tsunami were left as they were. Ebata lived with his family of three. They are living in an evacuation shelter without electricity. They have decided to demolish their house. ■Ebata Hidekuni: "My father built a new house, so I feel sorry for our ancestors, but there's nothing we can do. I think our ancestors will forgive us." Some things are being restored in order to move forward with life. ■Ikegawa: "Suzu Bus, which provides transportation for the citizens of Suzu, will resume operations from February 21st. It will start from the first bus stop soon." After the earthquake, "Suzu Bus" stopped operating on all routes, but six routes have resumed. Community buses are used by high school students and the elderly. ■Users: "It's a bit of a relief to be back to normal." "I'm glad that we now have another way to get to and from school, and that we can secure a place to learn, even if only a little." This woman took the bus to submit a death certificate to the city hall for a family member who died in the earthquake. ■A woman who lost her husband in the earthquake: "I have to take taxis. My husband died in the earthquake. I'm also weak. What should I do from now on?" A building was toppled over by the tremors of seismic intensity 7 in Wajima City. ■Ikegawa: "We're in the center of Wajima City. Flattened cars are left as they are under collapsed houses like this. It's been more than a month since the disaster, but they've been left untouched." Asaichi Street, where a large fire broke out and over 200 buildings burned. The roads were secured, but the burned buildings were left as they were. 105 people died in Wajima City, and over 2,700 houses were completely destroyed. Nanao City, where a seismic intensity of 6+ was observed. Over 13,000 houses were damaged. ■Ikegawa: "This is Ipponsugi Street. There are cracks all over the road surface." In Noto Town, where a seismic intensity of 6- was observed, the restoration of medical facilities has not progressed. Yanagida Onsen Hospital has supported medical care and nursing care for the elderly, but many of its wards were damaged in the Noto Peninsula earthquake and closed, with no prospect of reopening. ■Yanagida Onsen Hospital Administrative Director Nomura Seiichi: "The ground where the piping to the septic tank in the back runs has completely sunk, collapsing by about 2 to 3 meters and all of the piping has been cut off." Closing the hospital was considered, but there was strong demand from residents, so they decided to aim for reconstruction through crowdfunding. About 20 million yen has been raised against the target amount of 50 million yen. There are major challenges to be overcome in order to reopen. After the earthquake, about 40 employees, or 30% of the staff, have left their jobs or have expressed their intention to leave. ■Yanagida Onsen Hospital Administrative Director Nomura Seiichi: "(The people who left their jobs) decided that it was difficult to live in their hometown because their homes had collapsed or their families had lost their jobs." Yanagida Onsen Hospital aims to reopen as soon as possible, taking measures such as putting staff who cannot come to work on special leave. ■ Reporter Ikegawa: A month and a half has passed since the earthquake, and transportation infrastructure such as buses, roads, and railways are gradually being restored, but I was shocked to see that there is still a lot of progress, such as the removal of rubble from collapsed houses and the restoration of affected hospitals. Among them, the victims I interviewed said, "We just have to stay positive and do our best," and I got the impression that they are living their lives in a positive manner. Information as of February 21, 2024. #NotoPeninsulaEarthquake #DisasterArea #CurrentSituation #Recovery #UXNiigataTV21 #Niigata