A man stands in front of a fallen house in Suzu, Ishikawa prefecture, on Jan. 4 following a series of earthquakes that struck Japan’s western coast. (Kyodo News via AP)
TOKYO — The U.S. military will deliver aid to areas of central Japan devastated by a deadly 7.6 magnitude New Year’s Day earthquake, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said Friday.
The death toll from the temblor, which toppled buildings, buckled roads and set off landslides in Ishikawa prefecture, has topped 90, The Associated Press reported Friday.
U.S. forces are readying logistical support, food and other supplies, Emanuel announced in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“A true friend shows up when times are good but more importantly when times are challenging,” he wrote. “The [U.S.] is here to support our friend and ally [Japan] in its earthquake response. We will stand with Japan every day forward and stand by their side on their path to recovery and rebuilding.”
U.S. Forces Japan is still planning its response and could not provide specifics about the equipment and units that will be involved, a spokesman for the command, Air Force Maj. Thomas Barger, said by phone Friday.
“Our thoughts are with our Japanese Allies and all of those affected,” he wrote in a follow-up email. “All of U.S. Forces Japan remain ready to support our Japanese Allies during this difficult time.”
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo released a statement later Friday announcing that the United States is providing an immediate $100,000 aid package that includes essential resources like blankets, water and medical supplies through Pace Winds Japan.
“We understand that the challenges in Ishikawa Prefecture are significant, with access to the disaster-hit areas being severely hampered,” the statement said. “Our commitment goes beyond this initial contribution, and we stand ready to provide additional support as needed and requested, in line with our deep-rooted alliance. The United States will continue to stand with Japan through the immediate response and the longer recovery and rebuild journey.”
U.S. helicopters will help move resources to and from the disaster zone, Emanuel told the Kyodo news agency Thursday.
“We’ve offered [assistance]; it’s been accepted,” he said. “And this is a down payment. If they need more, they know they can always call.”
U.S. forces will do whatever Japan says to move resources anywhere, Emanuel said.
“This is a Japan-led effort. We’re in an assistant, secondary role,” he said, without giving a timeline for when U.S. support will begin.
The Japanese government is only accepting support that does not burden affected areas, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Friday at a Tokyo news conference.
Cooperation with the U.S. during the emergency response will take locals’ needs into account, he said.
“We are grateful from our heart for the countries and regions, including the U.S., that sent condolences, and offers for support as they encourage those in the affected areas,” he said.
In a statement shortly after the earthquake, President Joe Biden said he and his wife, Jill Biden, were praying for the people impacted.
“My administration is in touch with Japanese officials, and the United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Japanese people,” he said.
In April 2016, U.S. forces airlifted thousands of pounds of supplies to Kumamoto, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, after a series of quakes killed dozens of people and damaged thousands of homes.
Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft moved supplies during that operation. However, the U.S. military’s tiltrotor fleet has been grounded since the crash of an Air Force CV-22 Osprey off the coast of Japan in November.
In March 2011, more than 20,000 American troops worked alongside their Japanese allies during the emergency response to a magnitude 9 earthquake, the biggest ever recorded in Japan.
The resulting massive tsunami that inundated the northeastern coast killed more than 19,000 people and caused a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
