Death toll from Japan's M 7.6 quake rises to 180, still 120 missing

TOKYO, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- The death toll from a magnitude-7.6 earthquake that hit Ishikawa Prefecture and surrounding areas in central Japan on New Year's Day has risen to 180, with at least 120 others still unaccounted for, local authorities said Tuesday.
Local police begin a large-scale search for missing people in the city of Wajima, near the earthquake's epicenter, on Tuesday. At the Wajima morning market street, a popular tourist attraction in the city, some 200 buildings were destroyed by a massive fire that broke out after the quake.
The prefectural government said at least 3,300 people remain isolated, and more than 28,000 people take shelter at evacuation centers.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the focus of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake on the Noto Peninsula originated was about 30 km east-northeast of Wajima city at a depth of 16 km.
The agency warned of the possibility of powerful quakes continuing to hit the affected areas over the next month. (end) mk.sam