Japan's health ministry says more than 72,000 households were without water as of 7 a.m. on Saturday in the three prefectures most affected by Monday's massive earthquake.

The three prefectures are Ishikawa, Toyama and Niigata, along the Sea of Japan coast in central Japan.

The taps have run dry in about 66,400 households in seven cities and seven towns in Ishikawa, the worst-hit prefecture. About 5,640 households in two cities in Toyama and about 150 households in two cities in Niigata are also affected.

The country's industry ministry says the earthquake damaged equipment to distribute electricity, leaving about 23,900 households in Ishikawa without power as of 6:30 a.m. on Saturday.