Residents in Ishikawa Prefecture, affected by a New Year’s Day earthquake and recent heavy rainfall, are calling for urgent government assistance for reconstruction. Despite the upcoming House of Representatives election, many locals feel disengaged and question the electoral process, expressing that it is not a priority as they cope with damage to their homes and livelihoods.
In the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on New Year’s Day, local residents are urging for immediate governmental assistance to facilitate the rebuilding process. Many residents have expressed concerns regarding the timing of the upcoming House of Representatives election, especially in light of the heavy rainfall that severely affected the region last month. At the Wakura Onsen hot spring resort in Nanao, an area notably impacted by the earthquake, employees from closed ryokan inns and those from the tourism sector gathered to hear election candidates discuss plans for reconstruction. “If the inns do not reopen, the town will not regain its vitality. I want support to quickly restore our former hot spring town,” stated Tazuko Tada, an 88-year-old resident. A senior fisherman at a water supply station in Suzu lamented that ongoing water supply issues following both the earthquake and torrential rains were causing further distress, as many residents had already evacuated. This individual voiced his concerns regarding the impact on his livelihood, emphasizing, “I will not be able to earn a single yen as things stand now. I hope efforts will focus on restoring the fishing port.” Yoshiaki Sakakado, a 61-year-old individual who lost his home in Wajima and has been living in an evacuation center, conveyed a sense of disconnection from the electoral process, sharing, “I feel unmotivated to go vote” due to the flooding of his vehicle. Wajima city officials noted that polling station tickets are typically sent only to registered residential addresses, thereby omitting evacuation center residents from receiving them. Many locals remain unaware that voting is permissible without the ticket, should the voter’s identity be authenticated. A 62-year-old resident in an evacuation center remarked, “It is not as if anything will change with the election, and I do not know what to hope for.”, conveying a general sense of despair.
The Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture has recently faced significant adversities due to natural disasters, first with a strong earthquake on January 1, followed by unprecedented heavy rainfall in the following month. These calamities have disrupted the lives of residents, significantly impacting local infrastructure, especially in tourism and fishing sectors. The implications of these events have been further complicated by the local and national election scheduled amid the recovery efforts. Residents find themselves navigating the complexities of electoral participation while grappling with the urgent needs of rebuilding their communities.
The situation in Ishikawa Prefecture is dire, with residents expressing a pressing need for government intervention to address the destruction caused by the earthquake and subsequent rainfall. Many locals are struggling with issues such as homelessness and operational shutdowns of businesses and infrastructure, leading to a feeling of helplessness towards the electoral process. Consequently, the upcoming elections appear overshadowed by the immediate ramifications of these natural disasters, leaving many questioning their efficacy and relevance amidst such turmoil.
Original Source: english.kyodonews.net
