Death toll in Japan exceeds 7000

PanARMENIAN.Net - The National Police Agency said Saturday, march 19 that the catastrophic March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami have left 7,348 people dead and 10,947 others unaccounted for in Japan by 06:00 p.m. local time (0900 GMT).

Up to 4,289 deaths have been confirmed in the worst-hit Miyagi prefecture, said the agency, while the figures stood at 2,356 and 647 in Iwate and Fukushima prefectures respectively.

A total of 4,253 people have been reported missing in Iwate, followed by 4,437 in Fukushima and 2,252 in Miyagi, it said.

And around 367,000 evacuees are now living in Miyagi, Iwate and other prefectures, CRI reported.

A 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific coastal areas of northeastern and eastern Japan on March 11, triggering enormous tsunami. Heavy casualties and extensive damage have been caused by the twin disasters.