5 Days After The Japanese Earthquake, 240 People Reported Missing

Illustration-(Photo: DOK ANTARA)

JAKARTA - At least 240 people were still missing five days after a major earthquake hit Japan on New Year's Day. This number, as Kyodo reported, increased after officers related to recorded 92 new victims, Friday, December 5. Japan has added their army to the operation to rescue earthquake victims in Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture, which is the epicenter of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake. Since Monday, more than 600 aftershocks have occurred across the country. Many people are still trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings, while rescue teams are trying hard to find survivors amid bad weather. About 33,000 people have been evacuated to about 370 shelters in Ishikawa, which is the area worst affected by the earthquake and recorded the most fatalities and damage to the worst infrastructure. Many areas are still inaccessible so that the authorities cannot reach at least 700 people who have not been evacuated. Meanwhile, around 30,000 houses do not have electricity supply, and 80,000 other houses do not have water.

The US military has expanded its aid to Japan, and both sides are drafting plans for how US troops cooperate with Japan's Self-Defense Forces in areas affected by the earthquake. Meanwhile, 200 flights were canceled on Friday at Haneda Airport in Tokyo as one of its four runways has not reopened following a collision between Japan Airlines aircraft and Japan Coast Guard on Wednesday.