Japanese regional authorities said at least 62 people were confirmed dead and more than 300 injured in the powerful earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture on January 1.
Reports state that 20 people are in serious condition and that the number of victims is expected to rise further, AFP reported.
Japanese rescuers are still searching for survivors today, and authorities have warned of landslides due to heavy rain after the earthquake.
More than 31,800 people are in shelters, at least 200 buildings have collapsed, and that number is expected to rise, authorities said.
“More than 40 hours have passed since the disaster. We have received a lot of information about people who need rescue and there are those who are waiting for help,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said after a meeting of the emergency task force.
He added that the number of military personnel sent to the area on rescue missions has been doubled, and more rescue dogs have been deployed.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale hit Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu and caused tsunami waves more than a meter high, as well as extensive damage to infrastructure.
The Noto Peninsula on the coast of the Sea of Japan was the hardest hit, where fires broke out in buildings and houses were razed to the ground.
