The death toll has now reached 200 in the aftermath of the powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck western Japan, flattening parts of Ishikawa. More than 100 individuals are still reported missing.
The earthquake occurred at 4:10 p.m. local time on Monday, January 1, at a depth of 10 kilometers, approximately 6 miles, around 42 kilometers, and 26 miles northeast of Anamizu in Ishikawa.
Eight days later, thousands of rescuers are contending with blocked roads and adverse weather conditions as they work to clear wreckage and reach nearly 3,500 people stranded in isolated communities.
Figures released by Ishikawa regional authorities on Tuesday reveal that the confirmed death toll has risen to 202, up from the earlier count of 180 on the same day.
Moreover, 102 individuals remain unaccounted for, a decrease from the previously reported 120.
On Monday, authorities had significantly increased the number of missing to 323 after updating central databases, with a substantial portion of the increase linked to the severely affected Wajima.
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However, Ishikawa official Hayato Yachi informed AFP that, since then, “many families let us know that they were able to confirm the safety of the persons (on the list).”
This recent earthquake rekindles memories of the 2011 monster quake in Japan, which triggered a devastating tsunami, resulted in approximately 18,500 deaths or disappearances, and caused a nuclear catastrophe at the Fukushima plant.
(AFP)