Japanese authorities said rescue efforts have ended at a shopping mall heavily damaged by an explosion that followed a powerful earthquake. The update came after emergency teams searched the site in the aftermath of the disaster.
Officials said the earthquake has killed at least 36 people. The mall became one of the most closely watched locations because of the severe destruction caused by the blast after the quake.
The decision to stop rescue operations suggests emergency crews have completed their search of the shopping centre. Even so, the wider impact of the earthquake continues to be assessed as officials work through casualties and damage.
The latest development underscores the scale of the disaster in Japan, where the combination of quake damage and a mall explosion added to the human toll. Authorities are expected to continue recovery and investigation work following the end of the rescue phase.
