How many people are missing in Japan?

[Paradoxical]

I can't seem to find a reliable source. Some news articles are talking about hundreds of people missing. But other articles talk about entire towns being unaccounted for; 10000 people in one town.

The official numbers seem to be absurdly low. They are only reporting a few hundred dead.

[jaxx]

1. I read that many are feared to be washed out to sea.

The US is going through debris in the ocean now, combing it for survivors or bodies. They said a lot of debris fields are there.

[MiaCulpa]

2. If you follow this Twitter feed...

"BreakingNews" they post all breaking news from pretty much everywhere with the source for the information listed. The source is the most important item to note. The dead or missing 'toll' may be a 'police estimate,' for example.

From that Twitter feed:

Death toll in quake-hit Miyagi prefecture, Japan, could surpass 10,000, police estimate - AP



Japanese police say they've recovered another 200 bodies in coastal areas - AP



Japanese officials raise official death toll in quake to 801 - CNN

http://www.breakingnews.com/filter/japan-earthquake

Hope this helps some. Also worth noting in the disaster, it's estimated that more than a million people in Japan are now without drinking water, electricity, or adequate food. Even the emergency shelters don't all have power, and it's very cold there at night right now.

Japan can use all the help it can get right now, whether we contribute monetarily(Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10.) or by sending good thoughts or keeping them all in prayer.

[stockholmer]

3. Swedish television here says that over 170,000 are missing, but many will be found eventually