Earthquake that struck Japa has led to the death of 200 individuals.

 

   The death toll resulting from the powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck western Japan and caused significant damage to Ishikawa has now reached 200, while more than 100 individuals are still reported missing.

   The earthquake occurred on January 1st at 4:10 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located 10 kilometers (6 miles) beneath the surface, approximately 42 kilometers (26 miles) northeast of Anamizu in Ishikawa. Despite the passage of eight days, the rescue efforts have been hindered by blocked roads and unfavorable weather conditions, making it challenging to clear the debris and reach nearly 3,500 individuals who remain trapped in isolated communities.

   The regional authorities in Ishikawa released updated figures on Tuesday, indicating that the number of confirmed deaths has risen to 202 from the earlier count of 180, while the number of unaccounted individuals has decreased to 102 from 120. Initially, the authorities had increased the number of missing persons to 323 after updating their central databases, with a significant portion of the increase attributed to the severely affected area of Wajima.

  However, as time progressed, many families contacted the officials to inform them that they had successfully confirmed the safety of the individuals listed as missing. It is important to note that Japan continues to bear the scars of the devastating 2011 earthquake, which triggered a tsunami, claimed the lives of approximately 18,500 people, and resulted in a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant.