The death toll from Japan's New Year's Day quake surpassed 100 on Saturday, with more than 200 still missing, the country's deadliest quake in nearly eight years.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Japan's west coast, destroying infrastructure and leaving 23,000 homes without power in the Hokuriku region.
The search for survivors continued for six days under the collapsed buildings as more than 30,000 evacuees awaited rescue.
According to Kyodo News, citing information from Ishikawa Prefecture and other sources, 16 more deaths were confirmed in Wajima City and Anamizu Town by 1pm Saturday, bringing the total to 110.
According to the Ishikawa Prefecture government website, 98 people were confirmed dead as of Saturday morning.
This was the highest death toll since the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake in southwestern Japan, when 276 people died, including related deaths.
Road closures and other problems are disrupting the delivery of relief supplies.
Masao Mochizuki, 73, a freelance photographer, waited in a long line of Wajima residents to buy essential items in front of a supermarket that reopened on Thursday.
“It really helped that we were able to reopen the store,” Mochizuki told Reuters after purchasing a box of hand warmers, a blue plastic sheet to cover the broken window, and shoes to protect his feet from the broken glass. Told. on the floor of his house.
“But I still can't see the road to recovery,'' Mochizuki said, her voice filled with emotion.
