Japan dispatched 10,000 of its military forces to help rescue and relief efforts after a powerful earthquake on the west coast on New Year’s Day left at least 48 dead and dozens injured.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday that authorities were in a “battle against time” to respond to the emergency, as daylight and the lifting of the previous night’s tsunami warnings allowed a fuller picture of the devastation.
“We are going to continue our efforts from overnight to make sure that we can get the necessary supplies and personnel into the areas by fully mobilising not just land transport but also routes via air and sea,” Kishida said.