Japan’s Noto Peninsula Post-Earthquake Recovery Stalls

In the wake of the deadly earthquake on New Year’s Day, locals in western and central Japan are stuck in post-disaster limbo. After a devastating start to the year, more than 14,000 people continue to shelter in evacuation centers across three prefectures. Tens of thousands of people are without running water, which could continue for weeks or longer.

On New Year’s Day, a major holiday in Japan, households on the Noto Peninsula were jolted by a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake that killed some 250 people, injured thousands, and toppled around 40,000 buildings in Ishikawa, Toyama, and Niigata prefectures. It was the largest earthquake to hit the area since records began in 1885. The economic damage is estimated at $18 billion.

Two months on, local authorities are still battling a logistical nightmare, with cracked roads and damaged water and sewage infrastructure hampering relief efforts, including the delivery of essential supplies. The situation remains unpredictable due to almost daily aftershocks. As of writing – seven weeks after the massive earthquake – the worst affected six coastal towns, such as Suzu, Wajima, and Anamizu in Ishikawa prefecture, remained without running water.

In 2021 a national survey investigating whether water pipes can withstand a “maximum strength earthquake” found that Ishikawa Prefecture had a low seismic compliance rate compared to the national average. Local officials say that a major earthquake resistant water pipe, which serves half of the affected cities’ population, was impacted by landslides and tremors.

The risk of indirect disaster-related deaths as a result of prolonged stays in cramped makeshift evacuation centers is on the rise. Evacuees are reporting unhygienic conditions and the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza as well as gastroenteritis. The governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, Hase Hiroshi, promised to improve the conditions at evacuation centers.

There are also thousands of people who are staying in secondary evacuation facilities such as hotels and inns. But in the beginning of March they face being displaced again, with the hotel industry eager to bounce back after being hard-hit during the pandemic. Hotels say they want to free up space ahead of a projected post-pandemic tourist surge. Officials from Ishikawa Prefecture say they are surveying the accommodation requests of some 5,000 evacuees.

The local government has been encouraging the use of temporary accommodation as a way to prevent indirect disaster-related deaths. It has begun the construction of temporary accommodation units for 3,000 applicants, but that is still well below the 7,000 applications. Reconstruction has been hampered by a shortage of accommodation for construction workers, who have come to rebuild from outside the prefecture.

In February, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio visited the quake-stricken region, where he announced financial aid and interest-free loans to households and local businesses that have sustained extensive damage. He also expressed concerns over a possible outflow of locals from the area, which could accelerate depopulation in regional areas.

Japan’s deadly magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 spurred a national agenda on disaster preparedness and community resilience. The government also launched a Reconstruction Agency in 2012 that oversees the reconstruction and revitalization of disaster-affected regions. Japan began sharing its experiences and renewed efforts for disaster reduction with countries susceptible to earthquakes and landslides, such as Mexico and Brazil.

Yet there is growing criticism from Noto Peninsula locals and experienced disaster relief personnel, who point out the slow speed of relief efforts despite Japan strengthening disaster awareness and coordination since 2011.

The Noto Peninsula earthquake is a dark reminder that Japan is at constant risk of a devastating natural disaster. While Japan has made efforts to link disaster awareness to daily life, personal preparation is not enough. Not only do homes need to be rebuilt with a higher earthquake resilience, but Japan must also invest in reinforcing roads, water and sewage pipes, power lines, as well as communication infrastructure. It’s a mammoth restructuring that requires comprehensive earthquake-proof technology for susceptible regional towns.