2024-01-05 23:13:02
A dog found and rescued an 80-year-old woman trapped in a house that was destroyed by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that shook central Japan on New Year’s Day, the Japanese Ministry of Defense reported.
The animal, named Jennifer, is one of the dogs specially trained to find survivors in earthquakes.
Read more: The death toll from the earthquake in Japan increased to 73
The dogs have joined the thousands of soldiers and firefighters who continue to search for survivors of the powerful earthquake.
Our forces “had rescued 122 people as of yesterday, including an elderly woman in a house in the city of Wajima, who was found and rescued by a dog,” Defense Minister Minoru Kihara wrote on the X social network.
Find out: On video | Violent earthquakes in Japan cause tsunami waves of more than one meter
“Today, which is a crucial day, the number of troops will increase to approximately 4,600,” he added.
Hopes of finding more survivors are fading as the days go by.
The earthquake, which occurred on Monday, destroyed buildings and homes, caused major landslides and tsunami waves more than a meter high.
Damage is extensive in Wajima and other parts of Ishikawa prefecture, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan.
Strong aftershocks have shaken the region since Monday’s devastating earthquake, which caused landslides, a major fire and a tsunami with waves more than a meter high.
According to the most recent figures from Friday, there are 94 confirmed deaths and 222 missing.
In addition, water and food are scarce. “Supplies have barely arrived, but I guess they are already on their way,” confides Hiroyuki Hamatani, a 53-year-old resident of Wajima.
“Answer please!”
The tunnels on the outskirts of Wajima, a city of about 23,000 people, are partially blocked by rocks. Destroyed houses dot the route, with debris and snow dotting the road.
Even more shocking images await those who arrive in the city.
An imposing seven-story building lies on its side, while fallen electricity poles block passage along a street.
“Anyone there? Answer, please! ”A soldier shouts while his team searches the ruins of a house for another missing inhabitant.
The earthquake also caused a huge fire that devastated an area where there was a market and where a total of about 200 structures burned.
Shinichi Hirano, 47, contemplates the ruins.
“This is where my grandmother’s house was, but it burned down,” he told AFP.
“She passed away a long time ago, so her house was empty, but still this area was full of good memories,” he adds, showing the location of a pastry shop that he used to frequent as a child.
“But everything went away. Now I only see ruins,” she says with a sad smile. “I have no words,” she adds.
An 80-year-old man, who did not want to give his name, looked sadly at the desolation.
“I came to check on my relatives, but I haven’t been able to see them yet,” says the old man.
“This is terrible, terrible,” he sighs. “It’s like there’s been a war.”
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