The death toll from earthquakes that continue in Japan since January 1, has reached 168 people, according to data published by the country’s local authorities.
Meanwhile, the number of people affected by earthquakes that local emergencies services cannot contact to confirm their whereabouts, has risen to 323. More than 560 people have received injuries of various degree of severity as a result of continuing aftershocks.
A search and rescue operation is underway in the disaster area.
More than 1,200 earthquakes of different strength have occurred in Japan since January 1. The strongest earthquake shock had magnitude of 7.6, becoming the most powerful in this part of Japan since 1885, according to Japanese seismologists.
