Japan earthquake death toll rises to 94 with dozens still missing

 A woman is carefully pulled from the debris 72 hours after a series of powerful earthquakes struck Japan's west coast. Despite rescue efforts, the death toll rose to at least 94 on Friday, and the number of missing dropped to 222 after rising the previous day.

An elderly man was found alive Wednesday in a collapsed house in Suzu, one of the hardest-hit cities in Ishikawa prefecture. “Daddy, daddy,” his daughter called out as a swarm of firefighters carried him out on a stretcher, praising him for holding on so long after Monday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake.

Others were forced to wait while rescue workers searched for loved ones.

Ishikawa officials said 55 of the dead were in Wajima city and 23 in Suzu, while another five were killed in neighboring towns. More than 460 people are injured, at least 24 seriously.

The Earthquake Research Institute of the University of Tokyo found that sandy beaches in western Japan have shifted seaward by up to 250 meters (820 ft) in some places.

The earthquake caused a major fire in the city of Wajima, as well as a tsunami and landslides in the area. With some routes cut off due to the destruction, concerns grew about communities that had yet to receive water, food, blankets and medicine.

The United States on Friday announced $100,000 in aid, including blankets, water and medical supplies, and promised more would be on the way. Dodgers major leaguer Shohei Ohtani also announced assistance for the Noto area, though he did not disclose the amount.

Thousands of Japanese troops have joined the effort to reach the hardest-hit spots on the Noto Peninsula, the epicenter of the earthquake, which is connected to the rest of the main island of Honshu by a narrow land strip.

PlaceholderExperts have warned of illness and even death at evacuation centers that now house about 34,000 people who lost their homes, many of them elderly.

Masashi Tomari, a 67-year-old oyster farmer who lives in Anamizu city, Ishikawa, said it was hard to sleep on the floor with only a blanket. There was no heating until two stoves finally arrived on Thursday, three days after the 7.6 magnitude earthquake.

"It's an eerie, cold place," he said.

Tomari was shocked to think of her home, where broken glass and broken objects were scattered on the floor. It was dark at night as there was still no electricity in the area.

But Tomari and others were already thinking about rebuilding.

Sachiko Kato, who owns a clothing store in Anamizu, has put up a yellow notice as a warning inside her store, where the walls are leaning, and a red notice for the back shed that is completely damaged. Has been flattened.

He said, "There were a lot of shops on this road. Now, they are all gone. Maybe we can work hard to rebuild."

As of Friday, running water in Anamizu had not been fully restored. Kato had to fetch water from a nearby river to flush the toilet.

Dozens of aftershocks have hit Ishikawa and neighboring areas in the past week. Japan, with its criss-crossing fault lines, is an extremely earthquake-prone nation. Weather forecasts call for rain and snow over the weekend and experts have warned of more shocks.

The area affected by the latest earthquakes is famous for its crafts, including lacquerware, knives, ceramics, candles and kimono fabrics.

Tsutomu Ishikawa, who oversees Aras, a resin company that makes fashionable plates and cups, said there were no casualties around him, but the atelier was severely damaged.

He apologized for the delayed delivery and expressed determination to start over and rebuild while accepting the challenges. "We feel a deep helplessness that the creations we had created with so much love are gone."

Sachiko Takagi, who owns a kimono shop on a picturesque shop street in Wajima, said she was lucky that her 80-year-old shop – inherited from generations – is still standing. Others were not so lucky.

"These people don't have the energy to start something from scratch," he said. “I really wonder what will happen to this road.”