Applications to demolish homes damaged by last year's earthquake and heavy rain on Japan's Noto Peninsula outnumber repair applications by about two to one, sources said on Thursday. Many residents opted for publicly funded demolition, which is cheaper than self-funded repairs. Around 22,500 homes were fully or partially destroyed in the northern part of Ishikawa Prefecture.
Around 22,500 homes were completely or partially destroyed in the northern part of Ishikawa Prefecture's Noto Peninsula by last year's earthquake and heavy rain disasters. Residents have filed 11,796 applications for publicly funded demolition of such homes as of late October, while only 5,809 applied for an emergency house repair program where local governments cover part of the costs.
The repair applications represent about half the number of demolition requests, sources said Thursday. Many chose demolition because repairing the houses on their own would have been much costlier.
This preference highlights the financial burdens faced by affected residents and could shape long-term reconstruction efforts in the region. The disasters underscore ongoing challenges in disaster recovery, with implications for government support programs.