Japan's Ishikawa prefecture declares state of emergency as quake damage escalates

TOKYO -- The central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa on Saturday declared a state of emergency in the aftermath of the Noto Peninsula earthquake which has caused 126 deaths in the prefecture so far, with homes and roads torn apart.

Hiroshi Hase, governor of Ishikawa prefecture, told a disaster response headquarters meeting that the prefecture had declared a state of emergency in response to the extensive damage caused by the quakes.

Specifically, the prefectural government is advancing measures such as dispatching officers to areas heavily affected by the disaster and increasing the number of staff responsible for coordinating communication with national and local authorities, noted the governor, calling for speeding up efforts in restoration and rebuilding.

On day six of the quake on Saturday, the death toll surged to 126 in the prefecture. It marked the first time since the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which claimed 276 lives, that Japan has witnessed over 100 casualties due to an earthquake, including related fatalities, according to the weather agency.

An area of about 48,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of 4.5 football fields, was destroyed near a famous morning market in the center of Wajima city after a massive fire broke out during the temblors, according to the latest estimates from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan.

The latest data showed that at least 365 residential buildings have been completely or partially destroyed by the earthquake in Ishikawa, and about 150 non-residential structures, including public buildings, have also sustained damage.

Infrastructure and homes have suffered severe damage in Ishikawa, with around 24,000 households facing power outages and 66,000 households left without water in 14 cities and towns as of 8:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, and some 31,400 people are facing deteriorating sanitary conditions while staying at evacuation centers in Ishikawa, local media reported.