WAJIMA, Japan – The death toll from Japan’s New Year’s Day earthquake topped 100 on Jan 6, with more than 200 people still missing, in the country’s deadliest quake in nearly eight years.
The magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck Japan’s west coast destroyed infrastructure, leaving 23,000 homes without power in the Hokuriku region.
The search for survivors under collapsed buildings continued for a sixth day as more than 30,000 evacuees awaited aid.
Sixteen further deaths were confirmed in Wajima city and Anamizu town by 1pm (12pm Singapore time) on Jan 6, bringing the total to 110, Kyodo news agency said, quoting the Ishikawa prefectural government and other sources.
As at the morning of Jan 6, 98 people had been confirmed dead, according to the Ishikawa government website.
It is the highest toll since quakes in Kumamoto in south-western Japan killed 276 people, including related deaths, in 2016.
Road disruptions and other problems have hindered delivery of relief supplies.