9,500 Missing in One Japanese Town

It amounts to half the population
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 12, 2011 9:30 AM CST
9,500 Missing in Japanese Town of Minamisanriku
Buildings are covered with mud in the town of Minamisanriku, in northern Japan.   (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbum, Naoki Ueda)

As the rescue mission continues in Japan, the first truly scary numbers are emerging. Government officials in the northern town of Minamisanriku say 9,500 are missing, according to the official Kyodo news agency. That represents about half the town's population, notes the CBC. Still, confusion is rampant, and the confirmed death toll after the 8.9 quake remains about 600 across the nation. More than 200,000 have sought refuge in emergency shelters. Click for information on ways to offer donations. (More Japan earthquake stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X