Over 300 unaccounted for after Japan quake, snow hampers rescue work

The death toll from a New Year's Day earthquake in central Japan rose to 168 on Monday, with more than 300 unaccounted for, authorities said, as snow and rain hamper rescue operations and efforts to relocate survivors to hotels amid fears of COVID-19 spreading in evacuation centers.The number of people unable to be contacted increased by more than 100 from Sunday to 323, including 281 in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, according to the prefectural government.As many people are still believed to be trapped under rubble in the city where a major marketplace caught fire and burned down, a large-s…READ FULL ARTICLE