Death toll from Japan earthquake increases to 161

More than 160 people have died because of the big earthquake in Japan on New Year’s Day.

Efforts are still going on to find over 100 people who are still missing after a week.

The bad weather is making it difficult for rescuers to help people. There is heavy rain and snow, which could cause landslides and building collapses.

A big earthquake with a 7. 6 magnitude hit the far-away Noto peninsula. It knocked down buildings and caused a big fire.

Most of the deaths occurred in the cities of Wajima and Suzu, which were heavily affected.

At the same time, the number of missing people decreased from 195 to a little over 100. The number of people who have died has increased from 120 on Sunday.

More than 2,000 people are still unable to reach places because the roads are badly damaged. Many other people are staying in temporary shelters because they need help.

The Japanese army has been giving out food, water, and blankets to people who had to leave their homes.

The defence ministry said on Sunday that they sent almost 6,000 soldiers to help with the relief effort.

They said they think there are still people who need help and promised to keep rescuing them even though the 72 hour window has passed.

There are stories of people getting better in amazing ways. A 90-year-old woman was found alive under a pile of broken buildings in Suzu after five days.

People in the hardest-hit areas need to stay alert because they are still having more earthquakes.

As of Monday morning, over 1,200 earthquakes have happened in Japan since the start of the New Year, according to NHK, a Japanese TV station.

Japan has a lot of earthquakes, and there have been more near Noto since the end of 2020.

Over the last three years, more than 500 small and medium earthquakes have occurred there.