The earthquake that shook Japan on Monday, January 1, 2024, left at least 94 dead, 242 missing and hundreds injured. Although rescuers lose hope every day of finding someone alive, a rescue dog continues to search for survivors under the rubble.
The Japanese authorities have every time less chance of finding survivors, and that is why they needed the help of dogs to achieve it.
Who is Elsa, the lifeguard dog
Is about Elsa, She is trained to work alongside the military and first responders to find and remove people who are buried by the collapse of their buildings.
In the days following the earthquake, the black dog with pointed circles under her eyes was looking for an elderly woman who was feared trapped under the rubble of her house. The animal was brought to this coastal city by Yasuhiro Morita from its rescue dog training center located about 500 kilometers away, in the western region of Tottori.
“Please Elsa, please find her.”one person begged him, among a crowd of neighbors and rescuers who observed his efforts, three days after the catastrophe.
Elsa’s training
According to his coach, Yasuhiro Morita, Elsa is “the best in western Japan”. Therefore, she was taken to Wajima, one of the cities most affected by the earthquake.
“She is trained to bark when she finds a dead body.“Morita told the agency AFP. “But today he just loitered in the crowd, which probably means there was no body there,” he added.
Elsa isn’t the only dog still looking for survivors in the ruins. Jenniferanother rescue dog, found an elderly woman trapped under rubble alive.
The chances of finding survivors decrease
The towns with the most missing people are two of the hardest hit by the earthquake; Wajimaand Suzuwhere it has been confirmed that numerous homes have collapsed and rescue efforts continue despite the fact that The 72-hour limit has already passed, after which it is very difficult to find survivors..
The Japanese Coast Guard has also been searching since Thursday with a plane and a boat for people who could have been swept away by the tsunami –Tide rises of up to 1.2 meters were recorded– caused by the earthquake that hit central Japan at the beginning of the week, after receiving a report from witnesses.
Experts have also warned of aftershocks throughout this week and the next that could be of great intensity, in addition to the rains that are hitting the area and that could cause landslides and also make rescue tasks difficult.
The disaster after the earthquake in Japan
The Tunnels outside Wajimaa city of about 23,000 inhabitants, are partially blocked by rocks. Destroyed houses dot the route, with debris and snow dotting the road.
Even more shocking images await those who arrive in the city. A imposing seven-story building lies on its sidewhile fallen electricity poles impede passage through a street.
The description of the people who saw the city in ruins
“Is there anyone there? Please answer me!”shouts a soldier while his team searches among the ruins of a house for another missing inhabitant.
The earthquake also caused a huge fire that destroyed an area where there was a market and where a total of about 200 structures burned.
Shinichi Hirano, 47, contemplates the ruins. “This is where my grandmother’s house was, but it burned down,” he says to the AFP.
“She passed away a long time ago, so her house was empty, but still this area was full of good memories,” he adds, showing the location of a pastry shop he used to frequent as a child. “But everything went away. Now I only see ruins,” he says with a sad smile. “I have no words,” he adds.
An 80-year-old man, who did not want to give his name, He sadly contemplated the desolation. “I came to check on my relatives, but I haven’t been able to see them yet,” says the old man.
“This is terrible, terrible,” he sighs. “It’s like there’s been a war.”
Source: Ambito
