As the death toll from the recent earthquakes on Japan’s western coast reached 126 on Saturday, aftershocks posed a threat to bury more homes and impede essential roads needed for relief efforts in WAJIMA, Japan.

A 5-year-old boy who was recuperating from injuries sustained from boiling water during the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred on Monday, has passed away. According to Ishikawa prefecture, the region most affected by the disaster, his condition suddenly deteriorated and he died on Friday.

Authorities cautioned that the roads, which have already been damaged by numerous ongoing earthquakes in the region, are at risk of total collapse. This danger is increasing as precipitation is forecasted for tonight and Sunday.

On Saturday, the number of fatalities increased to 126. The city of Wajima has reported the most deaths at 69, followed by Suzu with 38. Over 500 individuals sustained injuries, with at least 27 of them being severe.

The earthquakes caused roofs to be scattered on roads and structures below to be flattened. The roads were distorted like rubber. A fire destroyed a neighborhood in Wajima.

The current count of missing individuals exceeds 200, but the exact number has been changing. Reports indicate that 11 people are stuck beneath two collapsed houses in Anamizu.

At the age of 76, Shiro Kokuda’s childhood home in Wajima was left untouched, but a temple close by was destroyed by fire. He is currently searching for his friends at evacuation centers.

He expressed that it has been incredibly challenging.

Ishikawa and its neighboring regions are experiencing a decline in population, making Japan one of the countries with the most rapidly aging societies. The local economy, which heavily relies on crafts and tourism, is now facing even greater challenges.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made an unexpected move by sending a message of sympathy to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday.

Earlier, Japan received messages of sympathy and promises of aid from President Joe Biden and other allies.

Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that Japan was grateful to all the messages, including the one from North Korea. Hayashi said the last time Japan received a condolence message from North Korea for a disaster was in 1995.

The restoration of power along Japan’s coastline was progressing, however, there was still a shortage of water. Additionally, emergency water systems had been affected by the damage.

Thousands of troops were flying and trucking in water, food and medicine to the more than 30,000 people who had evacuated to auditoriums, schools and other facilities.

According to the widely distributed Yomiuri newspaper, an aerial survey revealed over 100 landslides in the region, with some obstructing essential roads.

As time passed, the need for rescue efforts grew more urgent. Thankfully, some individuals who were trapped under debris were eventually rescued and survived.

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Kageyama provided coverage from Tokyo. This report also includes contributions from Associated Press writer Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea.

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Yuri Kageyama is on X: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Source: wral.com