KURIHARA (Japan): Military helicopters and fire department rescue squads raced to find 11 people missing after a deadly earthquake in mountainous northern Japan sent whole hillsides crashing down on Saturday, killing at least six and injuring more than 140. The 7.2-magnitude quake triggered several major landslips, blocking roads and stranding about 100 visitors at a hot-spring resort.
Eleven people were missing as darkness fell, further hampering the search crews, who had to hike through mountain trails and dig their way to the worst-hit areas.
Officials said at least 144 people were injured, a number that would surely have been higher if the quake — which Mr. Sato described as a sharp vertical jolt followed by a powerful sideways swaying — had hit a more heavily populated area.
Important task
“Our most important task is to save as many lives as possible, and we are doing the best we can,” said Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
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