Death toll from Japan quake nears 15,000

MOSCOW, May 9 (RIA Novosti) – The death toll from the recent 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami in Japan has reached 14,919 people, while 9,893 remain unaccounted for, Kyodo news agency reported on Monday citing police data.

Among six prefectures affected by the March 11 disaster, Miyagi registered the highest number of victims – 8,924.

About 119,000 people have been evacuated from the disaster zone and accommodated in 2,400 temporary refuge centers in 18 prefectures across the country.

The twin disaster also triggered a number of explosions at the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant, which caused the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986.

The Japanese government has said the damage from the disaster could total $310 billion.

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