Dozens of Indonesian citizens lost their homes due to the Japanese earthquake

Across Ishikawa, there are still 30,000 people displaced after the earthquake. They stay in the hall until school. There are dozens of Indonesian citizens among the refugees.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Puluhan WNI Kehilangan Tempat Tinggal gara-gara Gempa Jepang

DOKUMENTASI KBRI TOKYO

The Emergency Response Team of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Tokyo met with several Indonesian citizens affected by the earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture on Saturday (6/1/2024). According to preliminary data, 95 Indonesian nationals have lost their homes as a result of the earthquake that struck the region.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The earthquake in Japan has made 95 Indonesian citizens lose their homes. The earthquake has forced nearly 200 Indonesian citizens in Japan to evacuate.

Indonesian Ambassador to Tokyo, Heri Akhmadi, stated that the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo has provided assistance to Indonesian citizens affected by the earthquake. The team sent the aid last Friday and Saturday. "It was distributed through community networks in affected areas," he said in Tokyo on Sunday (7/1/2024).

Earthquake on Monday (1/1/2024) caused 95 Indonesian nationals in Ishikawa Prefecture to lose their homes. They are still displaced until now. They are distributed in Ogi with 38 people, Suzu 25 people, Saikai 27 people, and Wajima 5 people. Ishikawa Prefecture is the epicenter of the earthquake, resulting in the highest amount of damage occurring in that area.

Also read: Aftershocks Disrupt Search and Rescue of Victims in Japan

Heri stated that other than that, 183 Indonesian nationals are displaced in Ishikawa due to the earthquake. As of Saturday night, 170 people have returned to their respective homes. The rest are still in shelters, among other reasons, waiting for the authorities to examine the safety of their living situation.

We also continue to communicate with community hubs in Indonesia to gather data on our citizens who may not have received assistance or whose condition remains unknown.

The examination is important to ensure that there are no further victims at the earthquake-affected location. In addition, in certain locations, the search process is still ongoing.

The Embassy of Indonesia in Tokyo continuously reminds our citizens to follow local authority instructions for the safety of all. We also maintain communication with Indonesian community hubs to gather data on our citizens who may not have received assistance or whose condition is still unknown," said Heri.

Kompas

The minimal number of casualties from the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan on Monday (1/1/2024) is attributed to the earthquake early warning system. As of Friday, the latest data shows that the death toll has reached 92. Japan's earthquake early warning system, or Earthquake Early Warning, detected the initial non-destructive Primary (P) wave. What about Indonesia?

The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo has recorded 1,315 Indonesian citizens living in Ishikawa. According to the latest information, the majority of Indonesians in Ishikawa are safe and located in their respective residences. However, considering that communication channels in some areas have not been fully restored, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo is anticipating the circumstances of unregistered Indonesian citizens until now.

Broken house

According to data from the government of Ishikawa Prefecture, 1,370 houses were damaged by the earthquake. The extent of the damage varies, with the majority of damage being seen in old wooden houses in the prefecture.

Throughout Ishikawa, there are still 30,000 displaced individuals following the earthquake. They are living in halls and even schools.

Also read: Earthquake victims continue to increase, Japan is racing against time

Rescue workers are still searching for at least 195 people whose whereabouts are unknown. It is feared that they may have been buried under various buildings damaged by the earthquake.

Rescue operations took place amidst snow, cold temperatures, and heavy rain. The chances of the victims surviving have become increasingly slim after being trapped for a week under the rubble.

Another challenge in rescue efforts is the potential infection from the bodies of humans or animals who died due to the earthquake. Therefore, rescuers not only wear clothes that can withstand the cold, but also wear clothes that can reduce the potential transmission of diseases that are feared to emerge at the site of the earthquake.

KYODO NEWS VIA AP

Search for victims is being conducted by deploying K-9 dogs in Suzu, a town in Ishikawa Prefecture which became the epicenter of the earthquake on Saturday (6/1/2024). Almost 200 victims are estimated to still be trapped under rubble of the buildings.

One of the victims aged over 90 years old was rescued from under the rubble in Suzu. The woman was trapped for five days under the debris. The victim is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

Rescue priority

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that the government prioritizes the search and rescue of victims who have not yet been found. The government is also trying to reach isolated areas since the earthquake happened. "The first priority is to save the people buried under the rubble and reach remote communities," he said to NHK.

He ordered the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JDSF) to send a combined rescue team. The rescue unit travels by foot to the remote area. Some are transported by helicopter.

Also read: Some Indonesian Citizens Victims of the Japanese Earthquake May Return from Refugees

Many victims in isolated areas have not received assistance. One of them is named Taiyo Matsushita who lives on the outskirts of Wajima, Ishikawa. He walked for three hours, partly through mud, to be able to buy food and drinks in Wajima.

He cannot contact anyone from his residence because the telecommunications lines are cut. Around his residence, nearly 30 people have yet to receive assistance.

When met by Jiji Press in Wajima, he mentioned that his own residence had yet to receive a supply of electricity. "We want everyone to know that aid isn't reaching all places," he said.

Kompas

The Japanese government has lifted the tsunami warning, one day after a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 shook the country.

Indeed, after the earthquake, not all regions have yet been supplied with electricity. The water supply is also still limited due to damaged pipeline networks. Therefore, thousands of members of JDSF and the police force are deployed to send food, drinks, and medicine to the affected areas of the earthquake.

Some aid was sent to evacuation centers. The rest was sent to isolated areas.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly sent a message of condolences and sympathy to Kishida. Kim expressed his sympathy for the disaster that is currently striking Japan. It is not known whether Kim has offered to send aid to Japan or not.

The spokesperson for the Japanese Government, Yoshimasa Hayashi, stated that the Japanese government appreciates all of the messages. The last time Japan received condolence messages was in 1995. (AFP/REUTERS)