Mitsukejima Island in Suzu, Ishikawa Prefecture, partially collapsed during the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, leading to dramatic changes in its landscape. Once covered in dense greenery, the island now shows a sharp rise in withered trees since last summer. Researchers attribute this to the collapse of groundwater-retaining strata.
Mitsukejima Island, locally known as Battleship Island for its protruding, ship-like shape, suffered partial collapse during the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, exposing bare rock where trees once grew. Shigekatsu Tachibana, priest of Sumiyoshi Shrine which owns the island, said, “It no longer resembles the island that I’ve known for so long.”
A research team, including scientists from Ishikawa Prefectural University, estimates that about 14,000 cubic meters—roughly 20%—of the island’s total 70,000 cubic meters collapsed in the quake. The fallen rock spread outward, increasing the island’s surface area to approximately 6,580 square meters, or about 1.8 times its original size. Prior to the disaster, evergreen broad-leaved trees covered the upper part, but even survivors began dying rapidly around last summer.
One resident expressed, “It’s painful to see how much it has changed.” Meanwhile, seeds are sprouting in the collapsed areas, indicating new plant life taking root. Seiji Yanai, a specially appointed professor of forestry at Ishikawa Prefectural University, noted, “While many trees have withered, young ones are beginning to grow in the collapsed zones. We plan to monitor the changes over time.” This transformation highlights the earthquake's enduring environmental impact.