The January 1 earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the moment magnitude scale, struck western Japan with a force that set off a regional crisis. Reports compiled by local officials and summarized by the Kiodo agency on Saturday indicate a death toll that has risen to 110, while about 211 people remain unaccounted for. Earlier figures from Ishikawa Prefecture had placed fatalities at 94, with 464 injured and 222 missing.
Within the hardest hit areas, Wajima city confirmed 55 fatalities. The toll there dwarfed other districts, with Suzu recording 23 deaths, Nanao and Anamizu reporting five each, Noro two, and Shika and Hakui one apiece. One of these casualties occurred in Ishikawa prefecture itself. The scale of the disaster has devastated families and disrupted countless lives as emergency crews work to search for survivors and provide aid to affected residents.
Even four days after the tremor, roughly 30,000 residents who fled their homes within the prefecture were still unable to return. Fourteen towns remained isolated, including communities on the outskirts of Wajima, compounding the challenges of relief operations and basic daily life for those displaced. In response, national security and disaster-response agencies intensified their on-ground presence. The Japanese Police increased personnel involved in emergency operations from seven hundred to eleven hundred, while the government expanded the broader deployment of troops to five thousand. These steps reflect a coordinated effort to secure the region, restore essential services, and support evacuees during this critical period.
The quake has been described as the strongest tremor recorded in the country since official record-keeping began in 1885. The epicenter lay approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Wajima, with a depth estimated at about 16 kilometers by the Japan Meteorological Agency. In the immediate aftermath, authorities issued an unusually large tsunami warning, which was subsequently lifted by Tuesday morning as water levels stabilized and no further surge threats were detected. The continuous aftershock sequence persisted, with the most recent notable aftershock registering at magnitude 5.3 on Saturday morning. These aftershocks have added strain to rescue workers and have posed ongoing risks to residents returning to damaged homes and structures.
The scale and pace of the response underscore the region’s vulnerability to such seismic events and highlight the importance of preparedness. Emergency management officials continue to coordinate sheltering, medical support, and route restoration as they monitor aftershock activity and work to clear roads and repair infrastructure. Local authorities have stressed the need for residents to follow guidance on safety, evacuations, and the gradual resumption of daily activities as conditions allow. This event also prompted a broader discussion among policymakers about building resilience, early warning systems, and the prioritization of communities most exposed to these risks. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing assessments of housing, utilities, and public services, and with the public urged to stay informed through official updates and trusted news sources. Attributions: Kiodo agency; Japan Meteorological Agency; Ishikawa Prefectural authorities; Japan Police; governmental disaster response units.