Jan 06 (NHK) - Japanese authorities say the death toll has risen to 126 from Monday's massive earthquake in central Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture, and more than 200 people are still unaccounted for.
The magnitude 7.6 quake struck on New Year's Day.
At least 10 people including an 8-year-old boy are believed trapped in part of the town of Anamizu after landslides destroyed several houses.
Several roads remain blocked, making it difficult to reach survivors. Japan's Self-Defense Forces are using helicopters to carry out rescue operations and deliver supplies to isolated areas. But survivors say items such as gasoline and kerosene are in short supply.
The situation remains difficult at facilities for the elderly. In one facility with 100 residents, the second floor was severely damaged and is now unusable. Residents have been forced to live in the limited available space. The facility has been forced to take tough measures, such as using stored rainwater to flush toilets.
Authorities warn that the weekend's weather will only worsen the danger for people in quake-hit areas. Rain is forecast through Sunday across the Hokuriku region and Niigata Prefecture. The ground has been loosened, and even a small amount of rain could trigger more landslides. A cold front on Sunday afternoon could bring snowfall through Monday, especially in mountainous areas.
Evacuation centers in the prefecture currently house about 30,000 people. Local government officials say about 66,000 households remain without water.
Severe seismic activity continues on the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas. A powerful magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture on Saturday morning. Authorities urge residents to stay alert for more, possibly as large as the first magnitude 7.6 quake.
