Deadly earthquake Japan up

The death toll due to the powerful earthquake on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido rose to 44.

The earthquake last Thursday had a force of 6.7. Most of the victims fell into Atsuma. There were at least 36 people killed by landslides. On Monday morning the authorities found the body of a missing 77-year-old man, message broadcaster NHK.

The natural violence has wreaked havoc in the area. In total, at least seventy buildings were destroyed, the authorities say. Also, due to landslides, a thick layer of mud remained on roads and rice fields. Public transport in the disaster area is gradually getting under way again.