Rescue workers are searching for survivors of an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, on January 3, 2024 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

At least 78 people have been confirmed dead and 330 injured since the magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurred off the Noto Peninsula in western Japan.

It is a race against time for search and rescue teams, as the first 72 hours are especially critical because the prospects for survival drop sharply after that.

Thousands of soldiers, firefighters and police officers from across Japan are searching through collapsed wooden houses and toppled commercial buildings for signs of life.

Due to the earthquake, 29,000 households in Ishikawa prefecture still have no electricity. More than 110,000 households in Ishikawa and two surrounding areas have no water for daily use.

Rescue workers in the small communities on the Noto peninsula area are facing many difficulties due to serious damage to the infrastructure.