Noto municipalities struggle with quake-damaged vacant houses

The Noto Peninsula earthquake has left central Japan's municipalities grappling with the aftermath of one of the region's worst disasters in decades, as officials struggle to remove damaged homes and resolve ownership issues amid over 80 reported damages. To expedite demolition efforts, authorities are considering allowing such properties to be destroyed with court permission, though fear persists that many homes will remain standing. In Wajima City, a historic home whose roof and pillars collapsed nearly a year ago still stands untouched, sparking questions about its future in the face of ongoing disasters.