TOKYO, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The death toll has climbed to 73 in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa on Wednesday, after a series of powerful earthquakes hit the area in central Japan and the vicinity, with the prime minister pledging continued support for people suffering from the disaster.
Of the deaths, 39 were reported in the worst-hit city of Wajima and 23 in Suzu, while the other deaths were counted in five neighboring towns, public broadcaster NHK said, citing local authorities, noting that people are missing in various parts of Ishikawa Prefecture and efforts are underway to confirm their safety.
Meanwhile, more than 300 people have been injured, at least 25 of them seriously, it added.
A series of strong earthquakes, with a major one of 7.6 magnitude, on Monday struck at a shallow depth in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture.
In a series of aftershocks experienced by the region, one of a magnitude of 5.6 on Wednesday morning and one of a magnitude of 4.6 on Tuesday evening struck off the Noto Peninsula, both at shallow depths and measuring upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale which peaks at 7, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
Many collapsed houses have been confirmed in Wajima city, Suzu city, and Noto town of the prefecture, with the local government working to evaluate the damage situation, NHK said.
In Ishikawa alone, about 33,000 people are staying at evacuation centers, and over 30,000 homes were without power. In Ishikawa and two neighboring prefectures of Toyama and Niigata, 110,000 homes were without water supply, Kyodo News reported Wednesday.
