May 27, 2025 Survey Results on Digital Utilization Trends in the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has conducted a survey to clarify the status of digital utilization and related issues among residents in disaster-affected areas, local governments, companies, and organizations involved in disaster response and recovery efforts following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The survey was conducted through questionnaires distributed to disaster victims and interviews with local governments and other entities. The results of this survey have been compiled and are now being made public.

1. Summary of this Survey

(1) Survey method, target areas, and respondents
a. Questionnaire survey (for individuals)
　The questionnaire survey targeted the following individuals: (Total number of respondents: 1,092)
・Individuals who lived in the following target areas at the time of the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake (survey of registered monitors)
・Individuals who were staying in the following underlined cities and towns within the target areas that were particularly severely affected during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake (survey of registered monitors)
・Interviewees in Item b

(Target area)
Ishikawa Prefecture: Anamizu Town, Uchinada Town, Shika Town, Suzu City, Nanao City, Noto Town, Wajima City, Kanazawa City, Nakanoto Town, Hakui City, Kaga City, Kahoku City, Komatsu City, Tsubata Town, Nomi City, and Hodatsushimizu Town; Toyama Prefecture: Himi City

b. Interview survey (for organizations and groups)
　The above underlined cities and towns were particularly severely affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Many residents in these areas, as well as secondary evacuees, were received by Kanazawa City, which served as an external support base. In the above underlined cities and towns as well as Kanazawa City, various organizations, including local governments, companies, hospitals, agricultural and fishery cooperatives, chambers of commerce and industry, NPOs, and others, were involved in disaster response. We conducted a total of 57 interviews with organizations located in the above underlined cities and towns and Kanazawa City.

(2) Survey period
a. Questionnaire survey
　From November 2024 to February 2025
b. Interview survey
　From December 2024 to March 2025

2. Key points of the survey results

　The main points of the survey results on the trends of digital usage in the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake are as follows.
(1) Questionnaire survey
・In this Survey, we asked residents which media they accessed first following the earthquake. TV broadcasting ranked the highest. The percentage of respondents who first accessed TV broadcasting was lower in the areas that were particularly severely affected, suggesting that some disaster victims in those areas did not have access to TV broadcasting at the time of the earthquake.
・In this Survey, 51.9% of the respondents reported seeing uncertain information about the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake on social media, compared to 42.7% in the nationwide survey conducted in March 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the "Nationwide Survey"). About 90% of those temporarily staying in the affected areas reported seeing such information, indicating that people living or staying in the affected areas were more likely to encounter uncertain information about the disaster.
・Regarding the percentage of respondents who encountered uncertain information by type of social media, both this Survey and the Nationwide Survey showed the highest percentage for X. On the other hand, compared to the Nationwide Survey, this Survey showed a lower percentage for X and a higher percentage for LINE.
・The percentage of those who experienced actual damage or inconvenience due to uncertain information about the earthquake was about 5% among residents in the affected areas, while it was significantly higher at 32.6% among those temporarily staying in the affected areas.

¹Conducted using a monitor questionnaire method targeting web monitors nationwide between March 19, 2024, and March 20, 2024.

(2) Interview survey
・About half of the interviewees experienced damage to their network.
・Satellite communications services, such as Starlink, provided by private companies and the MIC at evacuation centers, were installed at municipal government buildings and other places. These services were highly rated by users. In the aftermath of the earthquake, some municipal governments and companies signed new contracts and began using the services during normal times. On the other hand, Starlink also presents certain disadvantages, including installation difficulties and high operating costs during normal times.
・In some areas particularly severely affected by the earthquake, false rescue information on social media led to requests for mobilization to local governments and other authorities. Rescue teams were dispatched but found no people in need of rescue.