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Japan earthquake: Search for Kyushu survivors intensifies Japan earthquake: Thousands remain without vital services
(about 7 hours later)
The search for survivors of two powerful earthquakes that struck the south-western Japanese island of Kyushu has intensified. Japan is struggling to restore services in the south-western island of Kyushu after it was hit by two powerful earthquakes.
Rescuers used improved weather on Sunday to fly helicopters to the worst-affected areas as tremors continued. Some 180,000 people are set to spend a third night in temporary shelters, including cars and tents.
Concern is also growing for nearly 250,000 homeless people. More than 62,000 homes remain without electricity and 300,000 homes have no water, Japanese media report.
At least 41 people were killed in Thursday and Saturday's quakes and it is feared that dozens of people could still be trapped under rubble. At least 11 people are still missing following the quakes which killed 41 people and wounded hundreds.
The BBC's Robin Brant says fears persist that another big quake may further damage houses already weakened. Rescuers used improved weather on Sunday to fly helicopters to the worst-affected areas of Kumamoto prefecture as tremors continued.
About 2,000 people were treated for injuries and nearly 200 are said to be in a serious condition. The BBC's Robin Brant says concerns persist that another big quake may further damage houses already weakened.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced that he will increase the number of troops participating in the rescue effort to 25,000 while accepting a US offer of air transportation in the rescue efforts. But fears that heavy overnight rain would cause further large landslides appeared to not have been realised.
Saturday's magnitude-7.3 quake struck at 01:25 (15:25 GMT on Friday) close to the city of Kumamoto, which had been hit by a magnitude-6.4 quake on Thursday night.
Both quakes were shallow, causing huge damage to roads, bridges and tunnels. Big landslides cut off remote mountain villages.
Some 1,000 buildings have reportedly been damaged and at least 90 destroyed.
About 2,000 people were treated for injuries and nearly 200 remain in a serious condition.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the number of troops helping in the rescue effort had risen to 25,000, and the US military would provide air transportation.
At the scene: BBC's Rupert Wingfield-HayesAt the scene: BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
Across the valley from where I am standing in the small town of Minama, a huge landslide hundreds of metres long has severed a highway and buried part of the area. Across the valley from where I am standing in the small town of Minami-Aso, a huge landslide hundreds of metres long has severed a highway and buried part of the area.
Rescuers using earth-movers are now clearing away tonnes of mud and rock from around the half-buried houses. It's thought at least eight people are buried in the slide, although it could be more.Rescuers using earth-movers are now clearing away tonnes of mud and rock from around the half-buried houses. It's thought at least eight people are buried in the slide, although it could be more.
There has been heavy rain overnight and aftershocks are continuing to strike all the time.There has been heavy rain overnight and aftershocks are continuing to strike all the time.
In the badly hit town of Mashiki thousands of people spent a third night sleeping in evacuation centres, in their cars, or even in the open. In the badly-hit town of Mashiki thousands of people spent a third night sleeping in evacuation centres, in their cars, or even in the open.
People here are very badly shaken. This part of Japan is not prone to large quakes. Everyone I have spoken to has said the same - they have never experienced anything like this in their lives.People here are very badly shaken. This part of Japan is not prone to large quakes. Everyone I have spoken to has said the same - they have never experienced anything like this in their lives.
The weather is now much improved from the wet and cold conditions of Saturday night, although electricity supplies remain erratic and many buildings still standing are not structurally sound. Japanese rescue teams scoured the remains of homes and buildings, and some used shovels to dig through the mountains of soil to try to reach people still trapped beneath.
Firefighters have distributed tarpaulins to residents to cover damaged roofs, but in many deserted homes there was no-one to use them. Most of those missing were from the badly-hit village of Minami-Aso.
Correspondents say that the indiscriminate nature of the destruction meant that some houses have been reduced to piles of debris while adjoining homes have been left standing, seemingly undamaged. There have reportedly been more than 440 aftershocks in the area since Thursday.
About 422,000 households are without water and 100,000 without electricity, the government said. With evacuation centres reportedly full to the brim, many people have been forced to stay out in the open.
One town badly affected by the two quakes was Mashiki, where few of the traditional style wooden houses remained intact,. "I sleep in a car and stay in this tent during the day," one 52-year-old resident of nearby Mashiki told the AFP news agency.
"I sleep in a car and stay in this tent during the day," Mashiki resident Seiya Takamori, 52, told the AFP news agency, pointing to a shelter made from a blue plastic sheet. A number of large firms have factories in the Kumamoto region. Electronics giant Sony Corp and motor manufacturer Honda said they were suspending their plants in the region.
His neighbour Masanori Masuda, 59, said many houses were left standing after the first tremor, only to be significantly damaged in the second quake struck. As a result many occupants are without basic necessities. Car giant Toyota said its production plants across Japan would have to be suspended because the quakes had disrupted its supply of parts.
"I need batteries to charge my mobile phone. Also, I need a toilet. I am afraid of going into the battered house, but I cannot help it. I take a bucket of water with me and have to use the toilet in the house," he said.
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, attending a G20 event in Washington, said it was too soon to analyse the economic damage caused by the quake, but bank operations in Kumamoto were still functioning normally.Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, attending a G20 event in Washington, said it was too soon to analyse the economic damage caused by the quake, but bank operations in Kumamoto were still functioning normally.
Saturday's magnitude-7.3 quake struck at 01:25 (15:25 GMT on Friday) close to the city of Kumamoto, which had been hit by a magnitude-6.4 quake on Thursday night.
Both quakes were shallow, causing huge damage to roads, bridges, tunnels, homes and buildings. Big landslides cut off remote mountain villages.
Are you in south-west Japan? Have you, or has someone you know, been affected by the earthquake? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.Are you in south-west Japan? Have you, or has someone you know, been affected by the earthquake? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.
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