Death toll from Japan earthquakes climbs to 126

ANKARA

The death toll from earthquakes that hit central Japan on New Year's Day has climbed to 126, local media said on Saturday.

Authorities also said that the search for over 200 people in the Ishikawa region still classified as missing six days since the quake continues, public broadcaster NHK reported.

On Monday, a strong magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit the Ishikawa province on the Sea of Japan, destroying a dozen buildings and causing huge damage to roads in the region, followed by smaller quakes.

Aftershocks also continue as a strong 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck the prefecture on Saturday morning, while authorities are urging residents to stay alert for more, possibly as large as the first, according to the broadcaster.

Local officials are also having trouble delivering relief supplies to affected areas as roads remain damaged and often blocked, while thousands of homes have no power.

Some 33,000 people have been evacuated to around 370 shelters in Ishikawa, which has faced the worst human loss and infrastructure damage.

Authorities also warned that rain and snowfall is expected on weekend across the Hokuriku region and the Niigata province, which could trigger more landslides and cold waves in the affected areas.

According to a latest study, Monday's earthquake has expanded the coastline in the area by up to 175 meters (574 feet).

An investigative team, led by Gotou Hideaki from Hiroshima University, studied the ground shift caused by the earthquake and the effect of tsunami waves in Ishikawa, according to NHK.

North Korean leader’s rare sympathy message

In a rare move, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a message of sympathy to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over the deadly quakes, state-run media said Saturday.

In his message, Kim expressed his deep sympathy and condolences to Kishida and bereaved families and victims, the Korean Central News Agency reported.

Kim said he hoped that the people in the affected areas would soon get through the aftermath of the quakes and get back to their lives.

According to Japanese media, it was Kim's first-ever message to Kishida, as the two countries have no diplomatic ties.

Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that Tokyo was grateful to all the messages, including the one from North Korea.

Last time, it was in 1995 when Japan had received condolence message from North Korea following a disaster.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid