SEtsuko Mukai is relieved. For the first time in over two weeks, he can turn on the faucet in his kitchen and water comes out again – fresh and clear, as if nothing had happened. An elderly lady lives in the mountainous part of the Japanese city of Suzu. A strong earthquake on New Year's Day destroyed the city's water pipes. “Yesterday I was able to swim again for the first time,” Mukai tells the NHK television station and smiles. But many of his friends in other parts of the city don't know it yet. He invited them to his house so they too could finally bathe and do laundry again: “We should help each other as best we can.”
Even three weeks after the powerful earthquake that killed 230 people, thousands are still without water and electricity in central Japan's Noto Peninsula. The 7.6 magnitude earthquake and numerous aftershocks snapped many lines, burst pipes and crushed water pumps. A week ago, according to official data, 55,000 households in the Ishikawa region had their water supply cut off. 8,300 households were still without electricity. 2,500 people in 22 towns were still cut off from the outside world by destroyed roads.
Some people wash themselves in the stream
In these isolated villages, people live in the most difficult conditions, according to the Japan Aid and Aid Association. A few days ago, for the first time, aid workers were able to deliver relief supplies to the Machino mountain area near the city of Wajima: pre-cooked rice, instant noodles, bottled drinking water, hygiene items, mobile ovens. Some townspeople whose houses were completely destroyed were now sleeping in a central emergency assembly point. Others lived in their cars. Since the water supply has not yet been restored and water supplies are running out, people wash themselves, clothes and dishes in the stream. Winter temperatures make living in these conditions not only difficult, but also dangerous. Many had colds and needed medicine.
Authorities and utility companies are trying to improve the situation. 1,000 men and women are involved in restoring the power source alone. The telephone companies are working together to rebuild about 200 destroyed transmission towers. But much of the Noto Peninsula is mountainous and therefore not easy to reach. Many roads are buried or slippery. Snowfall and freezing temperatures make work difficult. It will likely take months to restore the water supply. In addition, the danger of earthquakes has not been prevented, aftershocks occur almost every day.
Many do not want to evacuate
As a result, the authorities are increasingly urging residents to leave the area temporarily. This also applies to the 17,000 people who have been living in emergency situations such as gymnasiums and school buildings since the earthquake. Coronary and diarrheal diseases are rampant in many of these institutions.
But despite the unfavorable circumstances, most residents want to stay in their homeland. Authorities have organized 30,000 beds in hotels and restaurants, especially in the larger city of Kanazawa, about 100 kilometers away. Evacuees are allowed to move there for free. But only 1,700 men and women have taken part in this “second evacuation” so far.
People in the peninsula's cities are closely related to each other and have always helped each other in any situation, Takashi Kawabata, who runs an emergency shelter at the Suzu gym, told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Therefore, it is difficult for them to move to Kanazawa. “If they left the district now, they would no longer be able to help each other,” Kawabata said. The elderly in particular are afraid to leave their familiar surroundings. And the young did not want to leave the old behind. Kawabata is worried that the city could be hit again: “I'd like to get everyone to safety while we still can.”