Japan Quake Survivors Face Freezing Rain

The death toll from an earthquake that struck Japan on New Year’s Day rose to 64 on Wednesday as authorities rushed to bring aid to survivors facing freezing temperatures and heavy rain forecast for later in the day.

The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck the Noto peninsula on Monday afternoon, levelling houses and cutting off remote areas from aid.

Heavy rains were forecast in the quake-hit areas on Wednesday, raising fears of landslides that could further hinder efforts to free many more people trapped under rubble.

Severed roads, damaged infrastructure, and the remote location of the hardest-hit areas have complicated rescue efforts. The full extent of damage and casualties remains unclear two days after the quake.

Authorities have confirmed 64 deaths, up from 55 late on Tuesday, making the earthquake the deadliest in Japan since at least 2016.

Smaller quakes continue to hit the peninsula.

Firefighters from Osaka and Nara prefectures pressed on despite the rain and aftershocks, searching for a woman trapped in a wooden structure squashed by a seven-floor building which collapsed sideways.

The government opened a sea route to deliver aid and some larger trucks are now able to reach some of the more remote areas, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a press conference following a national disaster response meeting.

“It’s been over 40 hours since the initial quake. This is a battle against time, and I believe now is a crucial moment in that battle,” he said.

REUTERS