Residents of the city of Suzu in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, have expressed anxieties one week after a powerful earthquake struck the region.
The magnitude-6.5 quake registered upper 6 on the Japanese seismic scale from zero to 7 in the city last Friday, killing one person in Suzu and injuring 36 in the city and Noto Town.
Prefectural officials said that as of Thursday, 628 houses in the city were confirmed damaged -- 15 completely and 13 partially.
In the city's Shoin Town, quake-damaged houses' walls and roofs have been covered by plastic sheets.
A 80-year-old man said he wants to do what he can to fix his house as it will cost money to have it repaired. He said he cleaned up about 80 percent of the household's items, but still has more to do.
A 74-year-old woman said there have been subsequent temblors, so she is afraid and cannot even take a bath. She said she and her husband are having a hard time cleaning up, and need volunteers to help.
A 70-year-old owner of a beauty salon in Iida Town said customers are not likely to return anytime soon as there is no telling when the next one will strike. She added that earthquakes could speed up the decline of the town's population.
A 70-year-old man who runs a general store said there haven't been many customers since the quake. He said many people are probably busy cleaning up their homes.
Suzu Mayor Izumiya Masuhiro told NHK that he wants to offer condolences for the person who died in the quake. He said he plans to provide places to live for people whose houses were totally destroyed. He added that he will work to help rebuild the lives and businesses of the people affected by the quake.