eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Medical Case Reports 2374-216X 2024-04-25 12 5 68 72 10.12691/ajmcr-12-5-1 AJMCR20241251 article Youichi Yanagawa yyanaga@juntendo.ac.jp 1 Hiroki Nagasawa 1 Hiroaki Taniguchi 1 Tatsuro Sakai 1 Kazuhiko Omori, Hiromichi Ohsaka 1 Department of Acute Critical Care Medicine, Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University The earthquake and ensuing tsunamis caused 241 fatalities, 1,299 injuries, and damaged 110,287 residences in the Noto Peninsula amid harsh winter conditions. Demographic vulnerabilities, including an aging population and depopulation trends, heightened the region's susceptibility. Lifeline destruction, compounded by challenges in providing relief via land, sea, and air, was evident. Prolonged recovery operations led to secondary evacuations and difficulties in restoring daily life. Medical aspects revealed casualties, infrastructure damage, and decreased functionality in Wajima and Suzu City. Evacuation centers witnessed issues like hypothermia and infection concerns among the elderly. Approximately 650 Disaster Medical Assistance Teams were mobilized. The Noto Peninsula earthquake highlights unique challenges in aging and depopulating regions, emphasizing the need for disaster preparedness and response in similar vulnerable areas. https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajmcr/12/5/1/ajmcr-12-5-1.pdf Noto Peninsula earthquake disaster