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Japan quake leaves 6 dead, 140 injured

— PHOTO: AP

Roadblock: A taxi driver looks at a landslip that blocked a mountain road following an earthquake in Japan on Saturday.

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.

“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. — AP

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