Search and rescue teams in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa are still combing through areas near the epicenter of the deadly earthquake that struck the region on New Year's Day. The death toll is continuing to rise.

At least 206 people are now confirmed dead in Ishikawa Prefecture, while 52 remain unaccounted for. Police are currently conducting an intensive search in the city of Wajima, where a massive fire was sparked by the quake.

The blaze is estimated to have burned 50,000 square meters and destroyed more than 200 buildings.

A woman says the people who were living in homes on both sides of her residence are all missing. She says she hopes they will be found.

Ongoing relief efforts are being hampered by damaged roads and the harsh winter weather.

More than 3,000 people in the northern part of the peninsula remained cut off.

Over 26,000 are staying at temporary shelters, and some facilities are running out of volunteers.

A shelter in the city of Nanao had 30 people helping out at one time, but many of them had to leave.

One student said the labor shortages are getting worse day by day.

At one particular shelter, people impacted by the disaster are helping out. This comes amid growing concerns about hygiene and garbage disposal.

Many households do not have basic utilities. About 15,000 were dealing with power outages as of Wednesday morning. Nearly 60,000 are without water.

The quake also impacted many of the region's students who were waiting to go back to class after the New Year's holiday. Over 100 schools remain closed.

Arrangements are being made to transfer about 400 junior high school students in Wajima to other municipalities in the prefecture.

One school in Nanao is closed, but that hasn't stopped some students from keeping up with the curriculum on their own.

A student said, "I feel very lucky that I'm even able to continue my studies, and it's made me determined to study harder."

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio plans to visit the disaster-hit areas as early as Saturday.
He is expected to survey the situation and determine what needs to be done to support those impacted.