Photo/Illutration An area in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 22. The city has the highest number of fatalities related to the Noto Peninsula earthquake by municipality. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

KANAZAWA—Local authorities in Ishikawa Prefecture have confirmed that 30 people died indirectly through causes attributable to the Noto Peninsula earthquake that devastated the region.

The number puts the death toll from the New Year's Day disaster at 260.

Even after surviving the initial impact of the natural disaster, some people died over the following days from indirect causes, such as intense stress and deteriorating health due to poor medical support at shelters.

On May 14, local officials confirmed 14 such “disaster-related deaths” in Suzu, nine in Wajima and seven in Noto. Another five deaths from Suzu are still being evaluated to determine if they were disaster-related.

These confirmations mark the first officially recognized disaster-related deaths from the magnitude-7.6 earthquake.

Despite efforts to relocate evacuees from local shelters to safer, more comfortable accommodations, the indirect-death toll was double the prefecture’s initial estimate of 15, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the survivors.

When requested by bereaved families, a team of three lawyers and two doctors evaluate and certify suspected cases of disaster-related deaths, referring to examples from past disasters.

Conclusions reached by the team are then made official by municipal governments, making the surviving families eligible for disaster condolence money.

The financial assistance is 5 million yen ($31,900) for a deceased family member who was the primary income earner, and half that amount for other family members.

Following confirmation by municipal governments, the age, gender and cause of death of these individuals will be made public. The names of the deceased will also be released publicly with the consent of the bereaved families.

By May 14, at least 100 people across five municipalities had applied for recognition of their loved ones' deaths as disaster-related. 

The evaluation team will meet monthly to review the remaining applications and additional suspected disaster-related deaths.

In the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes, 722 applications were made for recognition of disaster-related deaths, 218 of which were approved.

In past disasters nationwide, some bereaved families sued local authorities after being denied such recognition.

(This article was written by Yoshinori Doi and Tomoyoshi Kubo.)