Photo/Illutration Temporary housing units constructed in a coastal area of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture (Masaru Komiyaji)

WAJIMA, Ishikawa Prefecture--Evacuees from the Noto Peninsula earthquake began moving into temporary housing here Feb. 3.

Eighteen units constructed near a tourism facility called Wajima Kiriko Kaikan are expected to house around 55 evacuees.

Wajima was one of the areas hardest hit by the magnitude-7.6 earthquake on New Year’s Day.

Sumiko Oshita, one of those who moved in Feb. 3, used to live near the popular Wajima morning market facility that burned to the ground in the aftermath of the Jan. 1 quake and had been staying at an evacuation center ever since.

Each unit is equipped with triple-glazed window panes to keep out the frigid cold. The wooden interior adds some warmth to the abodes.

Oshita, 76, received the key to her unit at the Wajima city government building.

“I am relieved to be able to enter temporary housing,” she said. “I am happy that I will be able to use water because I had difficulties doing my laundry.”

She was accompanied by her daughter, Naomi, 53, who said, “I am relieved because I was worried my mother might come down with an infectious disease at the evacuation center.”

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The first temporary housing complex constructed in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, has a total of 18 units. There are two types of units. (Juntaro Oka)

Close to 50,000 homes in Ishikawa Prefecture were damaged by the quake, according to official figures, and about 14,000 residents are still at evacuation centers.

The prefectural government plans to construct around 1,300 housing units by the end of March. It will also lease another 4,300 or so apartments to provide alternate temporary housing to evacuees. Another 900 units from public housing will also be provided.

The prefectural government believes that 9,000 temporary housing units will be needed in total.

It plans to lease another 3,700 apartments outside of Ishikawa Prefecture as well as provide 8,400 or so public housing units outside the prefecture.

(This article was written by Juntaro Oka and Yuya Tanaka.)

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Sumiko Oshita, right, looks over her temporary housing unit in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Feb. 3 while accompanied by her daughter, Naomi. (Masaru Komiyaji)

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