Japan** caused hundreds of deaths, 14% froze to death!
It has been a month since the outbreak occurred on Japan's southern island peninsula, and the latest data shows that 222 people have died. An analysis carried out by the National Police Agency revealed that 14% of these deaths were caused by frostbite or hypothermia, the first time the agency has announced** the cause of death.
While the vast majority of people were crushed to death by the collapsed building, 32 people may have died while waiting for rescue in extremely cold weather, according to Japan**. This is the first time we have learned that rescue delays due to road disruptions can result in the loss of innocent lives in the aftermath of a disaster.
According to the Japan National Police Agency, the road disruption during the ** period caused delays in rescue, preventing the people from being rescued in time. Dr. Hisashi Takatsuka, a medical specialist, was involved in the treatment and autopsy of the victims. An autopsy of 22 bodies he performed on Wajima Town revealed that nine died of hypothermia, which is a drop in body temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or below. Many of them were trapped under collapsed houses.
Hypothermia is very fatal and often occurs during winter hiking and water accidents. In general, hypothermia is more likely to occur when the outside temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below. The disaster area in Ishikawa Prefecture recorded sub-zero temperatures late at night on January 1.
Dr. Takatsuka noted that hypothermia leads to death for a relatively long period of time compared to other causes such as crushing or suffocation, so it's crucial to carry out rescue efforts within 72 hours of a disaster, after which survival rates drop dramatically.
However, due to road disruptions, it is difficult for police and fire brigade vehicles to reach the South Island Peninsula. With many buildings collapsing, effective rescue can be difficult even if emergency vehicles arrive early. However, Dr. Takatsuka suggested that the authorities continue to study issues such as rescue missions and accessibility.
In addition, Ishikawa Prefecture only announced the causes of death this time, such as building collapses and landslides, but did not disclose the specific cause of death.
It is worth mentioning that according to data from Hanshin Dai** in 1995, 54% of the victims died of suffocation and 12% were crushed. This data prompted Japan to revise its seismic standards for buildings.
The South Island Peninsula** has wreaked havoc on the region and is a wake-up call for rescue and natural disaster response capabilities. According to Japan, the relevant departments must learn from this time and strengthen the early warning and emergency rescue capabilities to protect people's lives. Only in this way can we reduce the number of victims of similar disasters and protect people's lives and property to the greatest extent.