On the 8th, a week after the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the affected areas saw the most snowfall since the earthquake. Some people were living in plastic greenhouses, laying mats on the ground and using stoves to keep warm. ■ Relatives gathered together, but 10 people were killed in a landslide On the 8th, the Noto Peninsula saw the most snowfall since the earthquake. In Wajima City, where 9 centimeters of snow, three times the average, the roads became icy and slippery. There were also scenes where a truck driving in front got its tires stuck in the snow and was unable to move. Snow piled up on houses that were close to collapsing, and some residents were busy clearing the snow. A person whose grandmother was affected by the disaster came to help: "I thought it wouldn't snow this much, but it's actually about 10 centimeters." In Noto Town, a woman who came to help her grandmother who was affected by the disaster was clearing the snow. A person who came to help out after his grandmother was affected by the disaster said, "Water comes out from under here to prevent snow from freezing on the road, but the water supply has been cut off there." Because the water supply has been cut off, the water to melt the snow has also stopped. There is also a risk of further collapse due to the weight of the snow. Garages have collapsed, crushing cars. A resident whose garage collapsed said, "It was quite a shock. There is a house still standing over there, but (the snow) is so heavy that it may be crushed." In Shiga Town, snowplows are deployed when the snowfall exceeds 10 centimeters, but the earthquake caused cracks and sinkholes in the roads, making it dangerous, so they gave up on deploying snowplows. Cars were seen slipping on roads where snow could not be cleared. The owner of the skidded car said, "I drive here even when it snows a lot, so it's not a problem. This has never happened before. This is the first time." "(Q: Has the water supply been cut off due to the water outage?) It's stopped. They haven't been sprinkling water at all today." In Anamizu Town, where the maximum seismic intensity was 6+, houses collapsed in landslides caused by the earthquake. At the scene, there were people who lost relatives in the landslide. Naoyuki Teramoto (52) "All my children are gone, I don't know what to do. It's so hard. Really. What is this? Why did this have to happen to me?" On New Year's Day, Teramoto was with his relatives at a gathering, and 10 people, including his wife and four children, were caught in a landslide. Tragically, all 10 people were confirmed dead. As of the 8th, one week after the earthquake, 168 people were killed, 323 people were missing, and 28,160 people were forced to live in evacuation centers. ■ Living in a greenhouse, evacuation shelter nearby... A magnitude 7 earthquake was observed in Shika Town. In a greenhouse that stood alone amid the falling snow, some residents chose to live in the evacuation shelter on their own, rather than go to an evacuation shelter. A person who took refuge in a greenhouse: "(Q: What is it like living in a greenhouse?) It's tough. When you see it for yourself, it's pretty awful." "(Q: Was it okay to deal with the cold at night?) I put a sheet underneath. I put a mat, put this futon, and put on a blanket, and it's fine." They spread mats, sheets, carpets, etc. on the ground, and brought in a stove to keep out the cold. Around 10 local residents who can no longer live in their homes are living in the greenhouse where grapes are grown from summer to autumn. A person who took refuge in a vinyl greenhouse: "(Q: Why did you take refuge in a vinyl greenhouse?) The reason is, there are so many people at the evacuation shelter, we can't go there (with this many people), so this is better." Although a shelter has been opened nearby, part of it was also affected by the disaster, so the space is small, and the vinyl greenhouse is not at risk of collapsing, so that's why they are staying here. A person who took refuge in a vinyl greenhouse: "This is a gas oven that cooks 1.8 liters of rice, and I cooked it and put it in a jar, so please take the jar with you." They are living by sharing food that they have at home or that has been distributed. The menu is rice, pickles, and miso soup. In Suzu City, about 25 people were taking refuge in a vinyl greenhouse. They were making a fire using wood from a collapsed house to heat the spring water from the mountain. A person who took refuge in a vinyl greenhouse: "(Q: What kind of support do they need most right now?) A place where they can rest in peace." ■ Entering disaster-stricken areas to reduce disaster-related deaths Disaster medical assistance teams (DMAT) are entering disaster-stricken areas to provide medical assistance. A member of the Fukushima DMAT said, "I want to get to those in need as soon as possible, but I feel frustrated that I can't get there." A week has passed since the disaster, and the increase in infectious diseases due to fatigue from evacuation and worsening hygiene has become a serious problem for victims. On the 7th, seven people were infected with the new coronavirus at an evacuation center in Uchinada Town. Furthermore, in Wajima City, the infection spread within a man's family at the evacuation site, and five of the six family members developed a fever. A family of five affected in Wajima City has influenza symptoms. "We found out we had influenza in the family, and it spread within the family at the evacuation site, so everyone except me has influenza." "The hospital was overwhelmed, so we were given fever reducers, but we couldn't get influenza medicine, and we couldn't diagnose it." The man has been riding his bicycle every day for his family. A family of five affected in Wajima City has influenza symptoms. "We were desperately pedaling around, clutching cash, to make sure everyone was hydrated." The risk of infectious diseases is increasing. On the 8th, the DMAT team delivered medical supplies to the evacuation centers and provided support such as improving hygiene. A woman (92) who had been evacuated since New Year's Day was taken to the hospital on the 7th and given an IV drip. Another woman who had been evacuated complained of a sore throat. DMAT Dr. Koichi Tanigawa: "Do you have a fever?" Evacuated woman: "I don't have a fever, but it's itchy. All the time." Dr. Tanigawa: "This is Calonal. You can take it up to three times a day." Dr. Tanigawa: "The bigger the disaster, the more medical needs increase about a week after. Many people have multiple illnesses, and it's common for them to worsen as a result of the earthquake. We will help reduce disaster-related deaths as much as possible." ■Wajima City hotel: "We appreciate your long-term support" The earthquake has also cast a dark shadow over the tourism industry. Hotel Mercato Wajima, which is close to tourist spots such as the morning market and is usually crowded with tourists, was also damaged. Hotel Mercato Wajima Managing Director Hiroyuki Taniguchi: "This is the main entrance, but it's not like this slanted structure." The door frame is severely warped, and most of the thick glass is broken. Managing Director Taniguchi: "It was a normal flat floor, but the other side is lowered, and the whole lobby is undulating." When we entered the hotel, the lobby floor was severely raised. When we turned over the carpet, we found it to be in a state of large cracks. The ceiling of the large public bath, which is available not only to hotel guests but also to day-trippers, had peeled off and large cracks in the wall. Managing Director Taniguchi: "In this situation, I think it will be a long struggle to see how far we can go. We have to do our best to make it possible for the local people of Wajima to live cheerfully and with smiles, otherwise we can't ask everyone to come with a smile, so please continue to support us for a long time until then." Akasaki Fishing Port in Shika Town was severely damaged by the 4.2-meter tsunami. Boats lined up were also flipped over and washed away near houses. Toyoo Kimura, a fisherman with over 50 years of experience, said, "I was shocked and thought it was impossible to revive. It would be difficult to revive it and do it again in the same way." Chefs support the victims... They even offer free baths There are also places where people can take a break from the harsh life of evacuation. Ramen was provided at the evacuation center by people working at Wakura Onsen and surrounding stores. A chef from the long-established inn "Kagaya" was also there, and he served over 400 meals using ingredients that he had secured for the New Year. Kagaya's chef: "When I say delicious food, I don't mean just any flavor, but we wanted to provide something good." Evacuee: "The noodles are chewy and very delicious." "It's been a while since I've had warm ramen, and it's heartwarming. It's snowing and it's cold outside. Even with the heating on, my feet get cold." "(Q: How old are you?) I'm 3 years old. It's delicious." Kusunoki Masami, who participated in the soup kitchen, said that her own cake and cafe, "Green One," was also affected by the damage. Kusunoki: "(The foundation of the building) has been lifted. So this door doesn't have a lock and can't be opened, so it looks like this." The store is tilted, and the interior is strewn with things. They were thinking of opening on the 6th, but... Kusunoki: "We had a reservation for a birthday cake, but we couldn't do it. Our customers are also victims, so they understand. I wanted to do it for their child's birthday, but I couldn't." A hot spring facility in Shika Town, where the water supply is still cut off, opened the baths to local residents for free. Customer: "(Q. What time did you line up?) From 7 am. I wanted to get in early." "It's a relief. It's cold at home, so it's best to warm yourself up." They plan to continue doing this until the water supply is restored, to provide comfort to those living in evacuation shelters. Aqua Park Shi-on Manager Katsunori Ohira: "We opened the facility free of charge because we want people to get their smiles back and get better." ■A man who came to deliver supplies...Water truck also arrived On the 8th, a helicopter was used to transport relief supplies, which had been postponed due to bad weather. Self-Defense Force members carried bread, water, and other supplies in a bucket relay. A week has passed since the earthquake, and preparations are underway to deliver the supplies to the victims. In Nanao City, a man delivered supplies individually to those who were unable to go and collect them. A man who came to deliver supplies: "If you need cup noodles, snacks, hand warmers, and blue tarps, please take them." A woman who received the supplies: "I have bad legs, so I thought I would have to pull the cart. I'm really grateful." In Nanao City, where water is still cut off in almost all areas, water was supplied to the repaired water tank for the first time since the earthquake. A water truck arrived from Iga City, Mie Prefecture, at a hospital where the water tank was partially destroyed. Regarding this situation, Mayor Yoshitaka Chatani of Nanao City said the following. Mayor Chatani: "First of all, we need to figure out how to resolve the water outage. By resolving the water outage, I think more people will be able to live at home." A woman living in Nanao City said, "(Q: Do you want water to arrive quickly?) Yes, it would be great if all the water arrived. But I think this is going to take a long time." (From "Hatori Shinichi Morning Show," broadcast on January 9, 2024) [TV Asahi News] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp