Photo/Illutration Evacuees stay in a former elementary school gymnasium in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 5. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Three disaster-stricken municipalities in Ishikawa Prefecture--Suzu, Wajima and Noto--announced on May 23 that a total of 30 people died indirectly through causes attributable to the Noto Peninsula earthquake on Jan. 1.

Details released that day about the 30 indirect deaths highlight the impact of difficult living conditions in evacuation shelters in the aftermath, particularly on the elderly.

So far, 14 “disaster-related deaths” have been recognized in Suzu, nine in Wajima and seven in Noto.

“Looking at the causes of death, circulatory system diseases, stroke and pneumonia are the most common,” said Shinsaku Ueda, who chairs the Society for Disaster Shelter and Refuge Life.

Ueda, vice director of the Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, added, “The stresses of evacuation life, such as inability to obtain sufficient water and food, were evident.” 

Local officials confirmed 15 of the dead were females, nine were males and the sexes of six of the deceased were not disclosed.

Eight were in their 90s or older, seven in their 80s, five in their 70s, two in their 60s and the ages of eight were not disclosed.

Three died after contracting COVID-19 or influenza in evacuation centers where infectious diseases were a concern.

Some had chronic illnesses that worsened as they lived in their cars.

Others could not access enough water or medicine during the evacuation.

Some did not receive professional medical care.

For example, in Suzu, a man in his 60s died of coronary heart disease. Living in a car and doing restoration work took a toll on his mind and body, and his chronic illness worsened.

In Noto, a woman in her 80s died after the quake because her dementia progressed, she lost her appetite and her physical condition deteriorated.

Ueda worked at an evacuation center in Suzu in January. He described the scene as, “Evacuees were crowded together, entering and leaving the shelter with their shoes on, sleeping in small groups and hygiene was a problem.”

He also said, “The fact that some people died of hypothermia is characteristic of disasters occurring in cold regions.”

A joint panel of the prefectural and three municipal governments examined 35 deaths and reported that 30 of the deaths were disaster related, with five deaths continuing to be examined.

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

The number puts the death toll from the disaster at 260.

By May 23, in Wajima, Nanao, Noto, Shika and Anamizu, at least 110 applications had been filed for disaster-related death recognition.

Suzu has not disclosed the number of such applications.

It is likely that the figure will continue to increase.

Ueda stressed the importance of improving conditions after disasters to reduce risks to evacuees and conducting drills beforehand and setting up shelters that take living conditions into account.

“In the future, it will be important to pay attention to disaster victims at home, who are hard to reach for assistance,” he said. “Because of their desire to continue living in their homes, they tend to tolerate poor living conditions. It is necessary to check on them to see if there is anything unusual.” 

(This article was written by Yoshinori Doi and Tatsuya Chikusa.)

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