Elderly Woman Miraculously Rescued from Debris Five Days After Devastating Japan Earthquake
Miraculous rescue! A resilient woman in her 90s miraculously survived under the debris of a collapsed two-story house for five agonizing days, following the devastating 75 magnitude earthquake that shook central Japan
After more than five days following a powerful earthquake in Japan, rescuers found an elderly woman in her 90s trapped under the rubble of a two-story house in Suzu City, Ishikawa prefecture. She was discovered 124 hours after the quake and was promptly taken to a nearby hospital, as reported by Japan's public broadcaster NHK.
The woman is able to have conversations but has suffered injuries to her legs, according to a doctor who spoke to reporters on Sunday. Kume Takanori, a member of the emergency rescue team, told NHK that the woman's knees had been trapped under furniture in a narrow space between the first and second floor. It took several hours to free her, Takanori stated.
A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit central Japan on January 1, prompting tsunami warnings in eastern Russia. Coastal residents were evacuated as buildings and roads were destroyed, with many structures also catching fire. Japanese authorities reported a death toll of at least 126 as of the latest update on Saturday.
In the case of a natural disaster, the initial 72 hours are crucial for search and rescue operations. This period is often referred to as the "golden period" for locating survivors, given that the conditions of those trapped and injured can rapidly worsen afterward.
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Rescue teams on the ground have been working against the clock to save individuals trapped under the rubble. Japanese officials report that the full scope of the damage is still uncertain, with over 200 people still unaccounted for. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in Ishikawa.
NHK reported that numerous roads remain impassable, presenting challenges for emergency responders and vehicles trying to reach those in need. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed this issue in a statement shared on X, announcing that traffic restrictions will be put in place around the earthquake zone starting on Sunday.
Traffic will be barred from entering the affected areas to allow for disaster recovery-related vehicles to pass freely.
