TOKYO
\nJapanese rescuers struggled with hea\u00advy rain, blocked roads and aftershocks on Wednesday following a powerful earthquake that killed at least 73 people and left tens of thousands without power or running water.
\nThe Noto Peninsula was worst hit by the 7.6 magnitude quake on Jan 1, with port towns such as Wajima and Suzu resembling war zones with streets of mud, flattened houses and sunken boats.
\nThe regional government confirmed 73 people are dead and nearly 400 injured, but the toll is expected to rise. More than 33,400 people were in shelters, and at least 200 buildings had collapsed.
\nAround 30,000 households were still without power in Ishikawa prefecture, the local utility said, and over 110,000 households left without running water.
\nHeavy rains were forecast in the quake-hit areas on Wednesday, raising fears of landslides in what could further hinder efforts to free many more trapped under rubble.
\nBattle against time
\nSurvivors faced freezing rain, threat of landsli\u00addes as authorities rushed to bring aid to survivors.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s been over 40 hours since the initial quake. This is a battle against time, and I believe now is a crucial moment in that battle. We have received a lot of information about people in need of rescue and there are people waiting for help,\u201d Japanese Pri\u00ad\u00ad\u00adme Minister Fumio Ki\u00ad\u00ads\u00ad\u00ad\u00adhida said at a news confe\u00adrence held after a national disaster response meeting.
\nSevered roads, dama\u00adg\u00ad\u00aded infrastructure, and the remote location of the har\u00addest-hit areas have com\u00ad\u00ad\u00adp\u00adlicated rescue effo\u00adrts. The full extent of damage and casualties remains uncl\u00ade\u00ad\u00adar two days after the qua\u00adke. The mayors of the har\u00addest-hit cities have deman\u00added the government clear roads and deliver aid swiftly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TOKYO Japanese rescuers struggled with hea\u00advy rain, blocked roads and aftershocks on Wednesday following a powerful earthquake that killed at least 73 people and left tens of thousands without power or running water. The Noto Peninsula was worst hit by the 7.6 magnitude quake on Jan 1, with port towns such as Wajima and Suzu […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":378744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-378705","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n