This earthquake has been really devastating for the Noto peninsula. 128 confirmed deaths so far, with 195 people still reported as missing/unconfirmed. 28,000 p

This earthquake has been really devastating for the Noto peninsula. 128 confirmed deaths so far, with 195 people still reported as missing/unconfirmed. 28,000 people have evacuated to shelters, and many more are without power and water in their homes. And right now it is snowing, compounding the suffering for people without power, and complicating cleanup efforts. [1] A lot of the infrastucture has been destroyed in the area, and 2,000 people are isolated due to roads being impassable. Fishing is one of the primary industries in the area, and many boats and coastal buildings were lost/damaged in the resulting tsunami. And with the coast having risen by up to 4m in some areas, there are ports which are no longer even accessible by boat. Most of the people worst affected have been the elderly. More than 50% of the population in the area is over the age of 65. And older people are more likely to live in older homes that are more susceptible to damage in an earthquake. And there are reports of covid and the flu spreading at evacuation centers. Over the past several years there has been an "earthquake swarm" in the area. Experts have speculated that it is due to water seeping into the earth's crust along with a subducting oceanic plate, causing swelling, weakening bedrock, and making faults more "slippery". [2] The Jan 1 earthquake occurred over a far wider area than previous quakes in the region, starting in the Suzu area and spreading to other active faults in the area. [3] Experts are advising that, while considerable stress has been released from this event, people should be on alert for more quakes in the future including the possibility of another magnitude 7+ quake. [1] https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240108_02/ https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240108_02/ [2] https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14515789 https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14515789 [3] https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2944/ https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2944/