Death toll from March 11 earthquake in Japan nears 12,700

The death toll from last month’s 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami in Japan has reached 12,690, while nearly 14,736 remain unaccounted for, the Kyodo news agency reported on Friday citing data from police.

The twin disaster that hit Japan on March 11 also triggered a number of explosions at the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant, which caused several radioactive leaks.

Over 165,000 people have been evacuated from the disaster zone and accommodated in temporary refuge centers across the country.

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

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit northeast Japan on Thursday. It struck 40 kilometers under the seabed off the coast of Miyagi prefecture. Kyodo says two people were killed and 132 injured in the new quake.

MOSCOW, April 8 (RIA Novosti)

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