A week on from the earthquake in Japan
Search and rescue efforts continue to look for more than 100 people still missing
A week after the earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, emergency teams are continuing their search and rescue work in Suzu City.
Severe damage to the infrastructure means that access to clean water and sanitation is a high priority. In response, a non-governmental organization that aims to help in major disasters, Japan’s Civic Force’s Airborne Rescue & Relief Operations With Search (ARROWS), has opened mobile medical clinics in some of the evacuation centers and is supporting hygiene management.
As well as the destruction of the sanitation systems, the road network has been damaged, meaning that access to the affected areas has been difficult. Reports state that over 2,000 people have been cut off due to the damage to the roads.
A lack of medicines, water and power are immediate problems faced by the residents of the Noto Peninsula, as well as the icy weather and additional quakes, causing particular risk for the vulnerable.
Without road transport to rely upon, evacuation and supply of goods by air is being utilized by rescue organizations. The ARROWS emergency team is assisting with patient transfers using two of their helicopters.
Supply of aid was recently tragically delayed when a Japan Coast Guard plane crashed on its way to support rescue efforts.
Jon Adams
Jon is the Editor of AirMed&Rescue. He was previously Editor for Clinical Medicine and Future Healthcare Journal at the Royal College of Physicians before coming to AirMed&Rescue in November 2022. His favorite helicopter is the Army Air Corps Lynx that he saw his father fly while growing up on Army bases.