Death toll in Japan quake rises above 60
Japan's New Year's Day 7.6-magnitude earthquake has become the country's deadliest one since at least 2016 after the death toll climbed to more than 60. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said authorities have stepped up rescue and aid delivery capacity. - REUTERS
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00:00 The death toll from Japan's massive New Year's Day earthquake rose to more than 60 on Wednesday,
00:08 making it the country's deadliest since at least 2016.
00:12 Japanese authorities rushed to deliver aid to survivors in Ishikawa Prefecture.
00:18 The 7.6 magnitude quake crumbled houses, damaged infrastructure and cut off remote areas for
00:25 much needed assistance.
00:27 Increasing temperature and heavy rain forecasts in the disaster-hit regions also raise fears
00:32 of landslides, which might further hinder rescue efforts.
00:37 Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday called it a "race against time."
00:41 "We will increase the number of Self-Defense Forces search and rescue teams from 1,000
00:49 to 2,000, and double the number of police and Self-Defense Forces rescue docks to strengthen
00:55 the teams.
00:56 We are putting lives first and making the utmost effort to rescue and save people."
01:01 Kishida added that the aircraft collision at a Tokyo airport had no impact on aid delivery,
01:13 and that authorities have secured various routes.
01:17 These satellite images showed the extensive destruction in Ishikawa's coastal cities,
01:23 including Wajima and Tsutsu, which is close to the epicenter.
01:28 The mayor of Tsutsu, which is home to about 5,000 households, said 90 percent of houses
01:33 may have been destroyed.
01:36 Over in the town of Anamitsu, the gate of this traditional shrine was found collapsed
01:41 after the quake.
01:43 Local residents, meanwhile, stocked up on supplies, which a nearby drugstore was distributing
01:48 for free.
01:50 Residents in the hard-hit city of Wajima said they were used to having minor quakes only,
01:55 and nothing massive like this one.
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