Residents of Ishikawa Prefecture Seek Urgent Support for Reconstruction Amidst Election Season
Severe effects of an earthquake on January 1st in Ishikawa Prefecture have prompted local residents to demand government support for rapid recovery efforts. Many residents express frustration regarding the timing of the upcoming elections, emphasizing their immediate need for restoration over electoral participation, as they confront hardships from both the earthquake and heavy rains.
Residents of Ishikawa Prefecture, severely impacted by a powerful earthquake on the Noto Peninsula on January 1st, are urgently appealing for government assistance to facilitate rapid recovery efforts. Many citizens have expressed discontent with the timing of the upcoming House of Representatives election, emphasizing that the region is grappling with additional challenges posed by unprecedented heavy rainfall last month. At the Wakura Onsen hot spring resort in Nanao, which suffered significant damage from the earthquake, local staff from closed “ryokan” inns, as well as others in the tourism sector, gathered to hear speeches from candidates vying for election. One local elder, Tazuko Tada, age 88, stated, “If the inns do not reopen, the town will not regain its vitality. I want support to quickly restore our former hot spring town.” Meanwhile, a fisherman in his 80s, speaking at a water supply station in Suzu, expressed distress over recurring water shortages exacerbated by both the earthquake and the recent torrential rains. With the fishing port currently unusable due to coastal uplift caused by the earthquake, he lamented, “I won’t be able to earn a single yen as things stand now. I hope efforts will focus on restoring the fishing port.” The adverse conditions have also hindered residents’ ability to participate in the upcoming election. Yoshiaki Sakakado, a 61-year-old individual who lost his house in Wajima and has been residing in an evacuation center, indicated a lack of motivation to vote, remarking that his vehicle was damaged by flooding. Officials from Wajima noted that polling station tickets are usually dispatched exclusively to the addresses on voter residency certificates and are not sent to evacuation sites. Many voters may not be aware that they can still cast their votes without such tickets, provided their identity can be verified. He lamented, “It’s not as if anything will change with the election, and I do not know what to hope for.” The situation underscores a growing sentiment among the affected populace regarding the need for immediate recovery measures amid electoral obligations, illustrating their struggle to reconcile the two demands at a challenging time.
The Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, experienced a significant earthquake on New Year’s Day, severely affecting the local community and infrastructure. Following this disaster, the region faced further hardships due to record heavy rainfall, compounding existing challenges such as the deterioration of local businesses, particularly those in the tourism and fishing industries. Simultaneously, residents are confronted with logistical issues regarding their voting rights and needs for essential recovery support.
In summary, residents of Ishikawa Prefecture are navigating a complex landscape of disasters, calling for urgent government support for reconstruction. The intersection of impending elections and an ongoing recovery effort has prompted frustration and a sense of futility among many voters. Local leaders and citizens alike stress the critical need to restore the community’s economic vitality before electoral concerns, highlighting the challenges faced by communities recovering from natural disasters.
Original Source: english.kyodonews.net
