Earthquake in Japan: the number of victims approaches 50

The death toll from a powerful earthquake in Japan has risen to nearly 50, amid rescuers searching for survivors trapped under the rubble, writes UNN citing Bloomberg.

Details

One of the hardest-hit places due to Monday's magnitude 7.6 earthquake was Wajima, a city of about 23,000 people. A fire in the heart of the city after the quake engulfed about 200 homes and stores, Kyodo News reported, and local authorities said at least 19 deaths have been confirmed in the city.

Aftershocks were also felt in the region, which is about 315 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, with about 1,000 troops along with equipment and Japan's Self-Defense Forces dispatched to help in rescue efforts, according to FNN.

Chief government speaker Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Tuesday afternoon that there had been 120 requests for rescue from collapsed buildings. Hayashi also urged people to refrain from spreading false information about the damage. He added that the quake had not affected the safety of nearby nuclear plants.

Numerous families in the region spent the New Year vacations in evacuation centers and hundreds of people lined up for fresh water after the earthquake affected water supplies. With rain forecast overnight, there is an increased risk of further landslides, according to public broadcaster NHK.

At least 48 people have died in Ishikawa, the prefecture said in a statement, with 16 others seriously injured. Authorities were still checking how many other people might be missing, it said.

The mayor of Suzu, near the quake's epicenter, said 1,000 homes in the city may have been destroyed and the area lacked food, water and other basic necessities, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.

The largest tsunami recorded after Monday's quake was in Wajima, about 1.2 meters. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the tsunami warning for Japan's sea coast was lifted Tuesday morning.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the quake caused damage and he has set up a task force to help with rescue and repair work. 

Official damage estimates have not been released. 

Some trains were suspended, power plants halted operations, while several roads and an airport runway were closed due to damage. Cell phone service was affected. According to Hokuriku Electric, some 33,000 households were left without light, while parts of the region were also left without running water.

U.S. President Joe Biden said his administration is contacting Japanese officials and the U.S. "stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to the Japanese people," the White House said in a statement.

Emperor Naruhito canceled a New Year's Eve public appearance scheduled for Tuesday in Tokyo because of the earthquake's toll on people.

Previously

Thirty casualties were reported in an earthquake in Japan.