Rescue efforts are underway after a devastating earthquake in Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture. Officials have confirmed at least 94 deaths. They say more than 200 people are still unaccounted for.

Several roads remain cut off, making it difficult to reach survivors. The central government is sending relief supplies to isolated areas along the coast via the ocean. Japan's Self-Defense Forces have been assessing the situation on foot.

The Ishikawa prefectural government set up a base facility for transporting relief supplies sent from across the country. Those aid items are loaded onto large vehicles at the facility and delivered to the affected areas.

About 32-thousand people are in evacuation centers in the prefecture. The local government says about 66-thousand households are still without water.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio addressed the situation inside evacuation centers.

He said, "The deterioration of sanitary conditions is noticeable. Please do more to improve the conditions at evacuation centers, to help evacuees stay healthy. Please prevent disease and disaster-related deaths."

Tremors have shaken Ishikawa's Noto Peninsula and other places since the earthquake on New Year's Day.

The Meteorological Agency is warning people to be on alert for more seismic activity over the next several days and quake-triggered disasters such as landslides.

The US Department of Defense Press Secretary told reporters that the US remains in close communication with Japan. He said the US stands ready to aid in any way that would be most helpful.