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Police officers check a collapsed building in the city of Wajima, on 5 January.\u00a0<\/span>Photo:\u00a0AFP\/ Toshifumi Kitamura<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n More than 2000 people are reportedly still cut off due to massive damage to roads. Several others are living in emergency shelters.<\/p>\n The Japanese military has been handing out supplies including food, water and blankets for those who have had to vacate their homes.<\/p>\n The defence ministry said in a statement on Sunday that it had sent nearly 6000 troops out to help with the relief mission.<\/p>\n They added that they believe there are still people alive who need rescue and vowed to continue their lifesaving operations despite\u00a0the ending of a critical 72 hour window<\/a>\u00a0to find survivors.<\/p>\n A man walks past the ruins of a shopping district in the city of Wajima, on 4 January.\u00a0<\/span>Photo:\u00a0AFP\/ Kazuhiro Nogi<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Stories of miraculous recoveries have been emerging. A woman in her 90s\u00a0was found<\/a>\u00a0alive under rubble five days after the earthquake hit, in Suzu.<\/p>\n Those in the worst-affected areas are being urged to keep their guard up as they continue to experience further quakes.<\/p>\n As of early Monday local time, more than 1200 tremors had been recorded since New Year’s Day, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.<\/p>\n Japan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, and activity has been increasing in the Noto area since the end of 2020.<\/p>\n More than 500 small and medium earthquakes have hit there over the past three years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n