Temporary Housing Complex Completed for Evacuees in Wajima; Units Contain Variety of Rooms and Amenities

The Yomiuri Shimbun

2:00 JST, February 3, 2024

WAJIMA, Ishikawa — Construction of 18 temporary housing units for evacuees has been completed in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, one month after a powerful quake devastated the city and its surrounding areas on New Year’s Day.

The units were unveiled to members of the media on Friday, the day before 55 evacuees from 18 households were scheduled to start moving in. The prefectural government authorized the construction, which is the first temporary housing complex completed since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck.

In addition to a kitchen and a dining space, 14 of the 18 units have two bedrooms, while the remaining four have a living room and four bedrooms. They have wood-based interiors and are equipped with triple-pane windows to protect from the cold. Each unit also has a restroom, a bath and an air-conditioner.

The prefectural government aims to start building about 3,000 units by the end of March in all affected municipalities in the prefecture, including 548 units scheduled to be constructed in Wajima. It aims to finish building about 1,300 of the 3,000 before April begins.

“I think this complex will enable the evacuees living here to have peace of mind,” said Wajima Mayor Shigeru Sakaguchi following an inspection.

As more residents have evacuated to places outside the affected areas, he added, “We’ll work hard so that they can come back to their hometown as soon as possible.”