Japan quake survivors face rain, aftershocks

Some 100,000 weary survivors of Japan's deadliest earthquake in a decade bedded down for a third night in makeshift shelters or slept outside as a series of strong aftershocks raised fears of another big tremor.

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 shook rural Niigata prefecture, about 250 kilometres north of Tokyo, early yesterday, two days after the first big tremor that killed at least 25 people and injured more than 2,700.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said an increase in aftershocks meant there was a 40 per cent chance of an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater in the area in the next week.

Saturday's initial earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8. It was the deadliest in Japan since the Kobe earthquake killed more than 6,400 people in 1995.

The magnitude of the earthquakes was measured according to a technique similar to the Richter scale but adjusted for Japan's geological characteristics. Saturday's earthquake measured 6.5 on the Richter scale, said the US Geological Survey.

Rain and falling temperatures prompted fears of more landslides and of a cold and bitter night for those homeless or too frightened to return to their houses.

The Meteorological Agency warned that even relatively light rain might set off landslides and authorities in Ojiya, one of the worst affected towns, urged more people to evacuate.

"Landslides are a worry," said a Niigata government official. "In addition, it is already very cold at night for people who are camped outside and if it rains, this will get even worse."

Tens of thousands of people have already spent two nights in evacuation centres or in the open air as the temperature fell below 10 degrees Celsius.

Some slept in their cars with the engines running, but many petrol stations had closed because they had no electricity.

"There has been big damage to lifelines of electricity, gas and water and many people are at evacuation centres, unable to go home," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda told reporters.

"The government is making every effort... for disaster relief and reconstruction so that those affected can return to their livelihoods with peace of mind," he said, adding that the government would approve extra spending if needed.

The tremors follow a record ten typhoons to hit Japan this year, including one that killed at least 80 people last week.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was to visit the area today to see the damage and comfort survivors.

Military helicopters airlifted around 2,000 residents of the village of Yamakoshi, where many had been stranded by landslides.

"I have no food. I have nothing to drink. I have no change of clothes for my children. But I'm relieved," said a young woman after being rescued.