Despite ongoing rescue efforts, hopes for finding survivors are dwindling, with authorities confirming more than 200 people still missing.

The magnitude 7.6 earthquake, which struck Japan's west coast, wreaked havoc on the Hokuriku region, leading to the destruction of infrastructure and leaving 23,000 homes without power.

As of Saturday, 1 pm (04:00 GMT), an additional 16 deaths were confirmed in Wajima city and Anamizu town, bringing the total death toll to 110. The Ishikawa prefectural government and other sources provided this information.

Wajima city recorded the highest number of fatalities with 59, followed by Suzu with 23. The disaster has resulted in over 500 injuries, with at least 27 reported as serious.

Rescue teams and local residents are tirelessly sifting through rubble in their efforts to recover bodies and locate missing individuals. The scale of destruction has prompted a nationwide response, with emergency services grappling to provide aid and support to affected regions.

Japan sits at the intersection of four tectonic plates, making it one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world.

Japan's location at the junction of the Pacific, Eurasian, Philippine, and Okhotsk plates creates immense pressure as these plates move and grind against each other.

The subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate is a major source of earthquake activity, generating deep-sea tremors and tsunamis.

Shallow earthquakes, often occurring along fault lines within the Japanese islands, can cause widespread damage and loss of life. (ILKHA)