Authorities struggle to provide services to tens of
thousands of people in areas worst hit by two deadly
earthquakes.
Japan's Self-Defence Force search for missing
persons at the site of a landslide in Minamiaso,
Kumamoto [Takuya Inaba/Kyodo News via AP]
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Authorities were struggling to get aid to parts of
southern Japan after at least 110,000 people were
forced from their homes in the wake of
two powerful earthquakes .
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he
wanted to officially designate the southern region a
disaster area in a move that would allow the
government to spend more on reconstruction.
About 30,000 rescue workers were scouring the
rubble for survivors and handing out food to those
unable to return to their homes after the quakes that
struck Kyushu island from Thursday.
Some 42 people have been killed and 10 are missing.
At least 110,000 people have been displaced,
according to the Reuters news agency.
About 80,000 homes in Kumamoto prefecture - the
worst hit area - still did not have electricity on
Sunday, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
said.
The US military prepared to join relief efforts as many
areas were cut off by landslides and damage to
roads and bridges. Forecasts for heavy rains, which
would make collapsed buildings more unstable, added
to the urgency of the searches.
