State officials confirmed an increase in casualties following the powerful earthquake. The statement outlined the toll: 15 in Wajima, 6 in Suzu, 5 in Nanao, 1 in Hakui, 2 in Anamizu town, and 1 in Shika town. The quake triggered over 155 aftershocks, affecting multiple provinces and causing fires in 200 Wajima buildings, leading to 500 people stranded at the city’s airport due to road closures.
Search and rescue efforts faced hurdles due to damaged roads, hampering teams’ access. Although thousands of responders were deployed, reaching affected areas posed challenges. The tsunami warning, initially issued after the quake, was lifted the following morning.