Photo taken on Jan. 3, 2024 shows damaged buildings after earthquakes in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan.  (Xinhua)

TOKYO, Japan -- The death toll rose to 213 in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa on Thursday, after a series of strong quakes of up to 7.6 magnitude jolted the prefecture and its vicinity, local media reported. 

A total of 52 people remained unaccounted for in the hardest-hit prefecture as of 9 a.m. local time, while at least 567 people suffered injuries due to the quakes, public broadcaster NHK said. 

In a breakdown of the death toll, 98 had been confirmed in Suzu City, 83 in Wajima City, 20 in Anamizu Town, five in Nanao City, four in Noto Town, two in Shika Town and one in Hakui City. 

The prefectural government also confirmed eight disaster-related deaths, meaning that the victims survived the quakes but died due to deteriorating injuries or illnesses caused by physical and mental strain in the aftermath of the disaster. 

A man passes by earthquake-damaged houses in Nanao, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, Jan. 3, 2024. (Xinhua)

Meanwhile, the number of people unaccounted for dropped to 52 in the hardest-hit prefecture, while at least 567 people have been injured due to the quakes.

Many people may still be unable to report whether they are safe or not due to shortfalls in communications and severed traffic routes. The names of those unaccounted for are deleted from the official website as soon as their whereabouts are confirmed, Ishikawa officials said.

Over 26,000 people are staying at temporary shelters, while some 3,100 residents remain cut off due to damaged roads, they added.

People rest at a temporary shelter in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, Jan. 3, 2024. (Xinhua)

The prefectural government is temporarily transferring evacuees to other locations away from disaster-stricken areas as it tries to secure more comfortable accommodations. Evacuees in Ishikawa's Wajima on Wednesday boarded buses bound for a prefectural sports center in Kanazawa, Kyodo News reported.

The central government is expected to arrange accommodations for approximately 10,000 evacuees in Ishikawa, Toyama, Fukui, and Niigata prefectures within the week, the report said.