Society

Earthquake effects ongoing

Sep 11 (NHK) - The death toll from last week's earthquake has risen to 41 after police found the body of a 56-year-old man who'd been trapped under fallen books at his home.

More than 650 people were injured in the powerful quake. Japan's government plans to spend nearly 5 million dollars to help people in Hokkaido get back on their feet.

The magnitude-6.7 quake struck near the town of Atsuma last Thursday. Many of the fatalities were caused by massive landslides.

Authorities say nearly 2 thousand people are being cared for in evacuation shelters.

The water supply has also been affected, with about 6,000 homes still waiting to be reconnected.

The earthquake damaged many houses and buildings. Authorities have started emergency risk assessments in the town of Atsuma.

In Sapporo, the application process has begun for people who need financial aid.

As residents struggle to reorganize their lives, they may also have to cope with an unstable power supply. Hokkaido Electric Power Company was forced to shut down the prefecture's largest thermal power plant after the quake and says restarting it could take more than a week.

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