Japan Quake Death Toll Rises To 206; 50 Still Missing

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that rocked Ishikawa Prefecture and surrounding areas in central Japan on New Year's Day rose to 206, with around 50 people still missing, as reported by Kyodo News.

An aerial image of the Noto earthquake's aftermath. I Photo: 国土地理院 Wikimedia Commons

The death toll includes eight people who were not directly killed by the magnitude-7.6 temblor but are believed to have died due to a deterioration in their health, in some cases associated with the stress of being evacuated.

The number of people unaccounted for dropped to 52, but the figure fluctuates daily as the Ishikawa prefectural government continues to release names of those it cannot reach, even if there is no evidence they have been affected by the quake.

Over 26,000 people remain in evacuation centers, while approximately 3,100 residents are still cut off due to damaged roads, according to the prefectural government.

Communication shortfalls and severed traffic routes may be hindering many from reporting their safety status. The prefectural government deletes the names of those unaccounted for from its website as soon as their whereabouts are confirmed.

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