Noto Peninsula Earthquake

Schools, Post Offices in Quake-hit Wajima Resume in Ishikawa Pref.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:05 JST, January 24, 2024

Some elementary and junior high schools resumed lessons in a shared building on Wednesday in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, which was heavily affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on January 1. Wednesday marked the first day lessons resumed in Wajima for students who remained in the city. Most elementary and junior high schools in the prefecture as well as junior high school students who evacuated Wajima had already resumed lessons earlier this month.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, several post offices in the city and other affected areas in the prefecture resumed counter services to distribute undelivered letters and packages. Residents queued at counters to receive their mail.

Of the 12 municipal elementary and junior high schools in Wajima, two elementary schools and one junior high school resumed lessons Wednesday. Among the 80 students of these three schools, 20 had evacuated or were unable to attend due to snow. The remaining 60 students convened at Monzen Higashi Elementary School, which had vacant classrooms. The students were seen smiling joyfully as they reunited with their classmates for the first time in about a month.

“I’m really happy. There’re kids from other schools, which makes me nervous, but I want to talk to them and become friends,” a fourth-grade boy, aged 9, said.

At Monzen Higashi Elementary School, each school held assemblies where teachers explained the precautions to be taken in the school which also serves as an evacuation center. Afterwards, students learned how to relieve stress and interacted through recreational activities.

Handing out undelivered mail began at post offices in Suzu, Wajima, Anamizu and some post offices in Noto.