Nearly 28,000 dead or missing, 82 children orphaned

Nearly 28,000 dead or missing in quakes, tsunami

The number of dead or missing in the March 11th disaster and aftershocks that hit northeastern Japan has reached nearly 28,000.

The National Police Agency announced on Sunday morning that 12,985 people have been confirmed dead and 14,809 are listed as missing, bringing the total to 27,794. The figure includes deaths reported after a major aftershock on Thursday night.

In worst-hit Miyagi Prefecture, 7,929 deaths have been confirmed, followed by 3,783 in neighboring Iwate Prefecture and 1,211 in Fukushima Prefecture.

Deaths have also been confirmed in a wide area of eastern Japan.
About 83 percent of the recovered bodies have been identified and are being handed over to families.

Some municipalities in coastal areas were damaged so extensively by the tsunami that they have been unable to calculate the number of missing people.

Search operations within the 20-kilometer evacuation zone around the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are being hampered by radiation.

The number of dead in the earthquakes and tsunami is almost certain to rise further.
Sunday, April 10, 2011 13:37 +0900 (JST) - NHK World
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82 children orphaned in March 11 disaster

Japan's health ministry says a total of 82 children in 3 northeastern prefectures lost parents in the massive quake and tsunami on March 11th.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry says that as of Saturday, 44 children in Iwate, 30 in Miyagi, and 8 in Fukushima had been orphaned by the disaster.

It says the number could rise as there are many children whose parents are still unaccounted for.

The ministry, together with the education ministry, has instructed education boards and school officials across the country to notify child consultation centers about children orphaned by the disaster.

The heath ministry will continue to survey the number of quake and tsunami orphans and their living conditions before it draws up measures to assist them.
Sunday, April 10, 2011 19:10 +0900 (JST)

NHK World