As of January 10, the death toll from Japan’s earthquake had topped 206 people after authorities added the deaths not directly related to the initial New Year’s Day quake, UPI reported.
According to Japanese officials, 91 of those deaths were in Suzu City, with 83 in Wajima City and another 20 in Anamizu. Over 567 others were injured during the initial earthquake and its multiple aftershocks.
The added death toll included eight individuals believed to have died due to illness or health issues that worsened during the aftermath of the earthquakes, due to living conditions in shelters, or from stress during evacuation.
The New Year’s Day 7.6 magnitude quake hit central Japan, destroying buildings and roadways, and knocking out power to tens of thousands. The aftershocks following the quake further threatened roads vital for the transport of relief.
Following the initial quake, power was gradually restored along the western coastline while water supplies ran low due to damage to the emergency water systems. Military personnel airlifted and trucked in vital supplies of medicine, food, and water to the over 32,000 people evacuated from their homes.
By January 10, as many as 26,000 were still being housed in evacuation sites set up in schools, community centers, and other buildings. Another 3,100 remained isolated from rescue workers due to damaged roads.
Government officials were working to relocate evacuees to other locations since many of the evacuation facilities within the Ishikawa prefecture lacked electricity and water and were still impacted by smaller aftershocks.
Some evacuees, especially the elderly, had been transported to a Kanazawa sports center before being moved to hotels.
The number of missing had dropped to just 52 by January 10.
Officials were providing the names and ages of the people presumed missing to confirm whether they were affected by the earthquake or the aftershocks over concern that some may not have been able to contact authorities as communication and travel routes remain cut off.
