Moscow, June 27 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The toll from the magnitude-9 earthquake and ensuing tsunami which struck north-east Japan March 11 has risen to 15,500, police said Sunday.
Another 7,306 people remain missing after the twin disasters which destroyed infrastructure and triggered a major crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Work is continuing to stabilise the crippled plant which is still leaking radioactive material.
Last month, Japan's parliament passed a $49 billion emergency budget for reconstruction following the March disaster. A small extra budget is due to be submitted to parliament next month.
In a statement last week, Japan's government said the direct material damage from the disaster stood at $210 billion.