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Death toll from Japan earthquake climbs to 23 as rescuers face race against time
['Mari Yamaguchi', 'Associated Press']
Irish News
Time was running out to find survivors, as rescuers continued to work in the Kumamoto area on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu, where the magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit on Tuesday.
The quake left at least 63 people injured, five of them seriously, the Kumamoto prefectural government said.
Thousands of people spent another night at evacuation centres set up throughout the area in gymnasiums and other big spaces.
The most serious damage was at the Aeon Mall shopping centre in the town of Kashima, which was bustling with thousands of people when the quake struck in the late afternoon.
Family members of those still missing could be seen wandering helplessly near the wrecked mall, waiting for word, despite the sweltering weather.