At least 126 people have been confirmed dead as aftershocks threaten to bury homes and block roads, following an earthquake in Japan this week.

The country’s western coastline was rocked by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake on Monday, with more than 200 people still missing and at least 500 injured.

It destroyed infrastructure and cut power to 22,000 homes in the Hokuriku region, while more than 30,000 evacuees await aid.

Among the dead is a five-year-old boy, who had been recovering from injuries sustained when boiling water spilled on him during the earthquake.

His condition suddenly worsened and he died on Friday, according to Ishikawa prefecture, the hardest-hit region.

Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, said: “I am keenly aware of the extent of the damage caused.”

With rain and snow expected overnight and on Sunday, officials warned roads already cracked by the dozens of tremors continuing to shake the area could collapse completely.

Roofs have been left sitting on roads and everything beneath them crushed flat, while fire turned one neighbourhood in the city of Wajima to ashes.

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Villagers pick up the pieces after devastating Japan earthquake
Trapped woman pulled to safety from rubble after three days

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Power is gradually being restored along the coast, but water supplies are still short and emergency water systems are also damaged.

Thousands of troops were flying and trucking in water, food and medicine to the thousands who had fled to auditoriums, schools and other facilities.

The national Yomiuri newspaper reported its aerial study had located more than 100 landslides in the area, and some were blocking lifeline roads.

The number of dead from Monday’s earthquake is the highest since a toll of 276 in quakes in 2016 in the southwestern region of Kumamoto – a tally that includes related deaths.

Japan’s Self-Defence Forces is set to reinforce the number of rescue staff by 400 to 5,400, with road disruptions among the obstacles hindering delivery of relief supplies.

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