1,000 Ground Self-Defense Force Personnel Begin Rescue Operations in Affected Areas of Noto Peninsula Earthquake

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida enters Prime Ministor’s Office on Tuesday morning.

The government said Tuesday that about 1,000 Ground Self-Defense Force personnel have arrived in the affected areas of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred in Ishikawa Prefecture the previous day and began full-scale rescue operations. According to the government, the SDF have mobilized about 10,000 personnel. A total of 18 aircrafts and helicopters have been deployed, while a destroyer warship carrying relief supplies also departed for the Noto Peninsula on Monday evening.

At a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida clarified the situation of the affected areas, saying, “Since dawn [on Tuesday], many collapsed houses have been confirmed. We are currently trying to confirm the number of damaged houses and related human casualties.”

Kishida added, “We have not yet received a consolidated report [on damages].” Kishida also stated that more information on large-scale damage, including human casualties, fires and collapsed buildings, is becoming available.