The number of fatalities from the earthquake in Japan increases to 161.

Authorities have announced that the death toll from Japan's devastating earthquake on New Year's Day has surpassed 160. Rescuers are still searching for over 100 people who remain missing after a week. Unfortunately, rescue efforts are being hindered by unfavorable weather conditions, including heavy rain and snow, which have triggered warnings of landslides and building collapses. The earthquake, measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, struck the remote Noto peninsula, causing buildings to collapse and sparking a major fire. The cities of Wajima and Suzu have been particularly hard-hit, accounting for the majority of the deaths. Although the number of missing persons has decreased from 195 to just over 100, more than 2,000 people are still isolated due to extensive damage to roads, with some living in emergency shelters. The Japanese military has been distributing essential supplies, such as food, water, and blankets, to those who have been displaced. Nearly 6,000 troops have been deployed by the defense ministry to assist with relief operations. Despite the expiration of a critical 72-hour window to find survivors, the military remains committed to ongoing rescue efforts, as they believe there are still individuals in need of saving. There have been miraculous stories of survivors, including a woman in her 90s who was found alive under rubble in Suzu five days after the earthquake. Residents in the most affected areas are advised to remain vigilant as they continue to experience aftershocks. Since New Year's Day, more than 1,200 tremors have been recorded, indicating Japan's high seismic activity. The Noto peninsula, in particular, has experienced an increase in earthquake activity since the end of 2020, with over 500 small to medium-sized earthquakes occurring in the region within the past three years.