TOKYO: The death toll from a powerful quake in Japan that hit the country’s west coast on New Year’s Day rose to around 73 on Thursday, as the search for survivors under collapsed compounds continued and tens of thousands of evacuees awaited aid and help.
Over 33,000 people have evacuated their houses and around 100,000 homes have no water supply, the local government. Over 300 people have been reportedly injured, of which 20 are critical, an official in charge of disaster response said.
Japanese rescuers scrambled to search for survivors as local officials warned of landslides and heavy rain following the powerful earthquake in the country.
Japan Earthquake Death Toll Reaches to 73
The 7.5 magnitude earthquake on January 1st that rattled Ishikawa region on the main island of Honshu triggered tsunami waves over a metre high, also sparked a major fire and tore separately roads.
Earlier, Japan’s Prime Minister reiterated that “it is a race against time” given how many citizens may have been caught in the collapsed compounds, NHK reported.
The rescue operation was given extra urgency as the Japan Meteorological Agency had issued a heavy rain warning for the region. Earlier, local media reported that Shinkansen bullet trains and highways have eventually resumed operations following several thousand commuters were stranded, some for around 24 hours.
