Japan death toll climbs; Half a million homeless

The official death toll from the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern Japan was raised to 3,676 Wednesday, but it is expected climb above 10,000 as nearly 8,000 people are still missing. Some 434,000 people were made homeless and are living in shelters.

Nearly than half a million people are homeless and living in shelters. The quake and wall of water washed away their lives as they knew them.

The shelters are overwhelmed. With no running water, people have to use buckets of water to flush toilets. Even a proud and prosperous country like Japan is overwhelmed by the destruction.

"I'm too old to be homeless," one woman told CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy.

Complete coverage: Disaster in Japan

With each passing day, more and more poignant stories of survivors and victims are emerging.

Immediately after the quake, Katsutaro Hamada, 79, fled to safety with his wife. But then he went back home to retrieve a photo album of his granddaughter, 14-year-old Saori, and grandson, 10-year-old Hikaru.

Just then the tsunami came and swept away his home. Rescuers found Hamada's body, crushed by the first floor bathroom walls. He was holding the album to his chest, Kyodo news agency reported.

While Japan's defense forces search for bodies in lakes left by the tsunami, 45 other countries including the U.S. and China are sending in search and rescue teams. But they haven't been able to get to some of the hardest hit areas because of the radiation leaking from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Radiation reality check: Risks and fears

More than 90 nations have now offered aid and at least $59 million in donations have poured in. But the damage is so much more -- estimated at nearly $200 billion.

The White House says the Agency for International Development -- known as USAID -- is coordinating all U.S. support efforts to the Japanese government, CBS News White House correspondent Bill Plante reports.

There are two urban search and rescue teams on the ground, from Los Angeles and Fairfax County, Va., with 114 rescuers and 12 rescue dogs.

The military sent eight ships, more than 100 helicopters and nearly 5,300 personnel. Their mission includes recon flights to assess damage, delivering food and water, and coordinating rescue operations.

And the Department of Energy sent a team of 34 people with equipment to monitor radiation levels. In addition, a team of nuclear experts in Washington is communicating with Japanese counterparts to advise on repairing the nuclear reactors.

Frustration is mounting among residents of Fukushima prefecture, where the stricken nuclear reactors are located, reports CBS News' Harry Smith. Japanese nuclear authorities have a history of being less than forthcoming about the safety of their reactors, contributing to confusion and distrust.

Many are leaving Tokyo. Several major international corporations have closed their offices, and even sent workers south, Smith reports

In an extremely rare appearance, Japan's Emperor Akihito addressed his people Wednesday, expressing condolences for the loss of life -- and encouraging his subjects not to give up.

[freeamerica31]

Having lived in Japan for over 6 years and knowing the kindness and generosity of the people, I hope things can start to rebuild soon. The Japanese people will rebuild and will move on because they have more grit in a nation than I've ever seen.

[diamruby]

Adrenalin666, I could not have said it better. You are so very right. Save the world from the evils of "Religion".

[fxer82]

i wonder what you axxes will say when it happens to you, and other people send rude hatefull comments in just because it is a right, this right does not meen it is used as a tool for your own moraly incorect rantings you idiots..anyone white, black, red, yellow, sorry if i missed a few colors, ever experience this devistation in your own yard it would be a blessing if later on, you read that people all over the world could feel for the lost of so many innocent men, women, Old, young, HUMANS!!! and stand together and help this tradgity. do you at all, see what your words say about the character, your personality...shows all, who you really are.

this is going to effect us all here on this beautiful world, it is so messed up on GREED, HATE, BULLINING, and someone elses accountablity that youll shiver in the corner when it becomes YOU on the news.

I Challenge all leaders, all countries, all people, if ever a time of need is to be beatin it is done with action, NOW, step up and do everthing in your power to save and rebuild JAPAN, and then the rest of this world, stop wars, stop saying it is not my business, because it is, when the monitary system goes down and i meen down, where are we to be then. sitting in gas lines, teaching our kids at home, employers cant hire, hospitals cant operate, farmers cant farm, because the Goverment cant see eye to eye on our childern as the FURTURE, i think your a spoiled brat, there is to much greed in government, there is to much corruption in government, there is to much control in government, i thought it was WE THE PEOPLE...not its like we the rich, we are not stupid, we the greedy...we are not blind

so i say this, to you, the so called leaders of all countries here on this planet step up, quit your peddy ******** and fianlly get this right, it is beyond just you, this is our future, this is our right now, yea i look to you, to do something together, do it without compalint, do it BECAUSE it is our planet, our own yard. or please guys if ya cant PLEASE STEP ASIDE, NO I MEEN STEP WAY ASIDE. because ya screw this up and we will all suffer because of our own peddy squabling. i think sometimes i need to slap ya put you all in a timeout,and make ya all behave,,my grandmother brought me up better than what your showing..
this is easy all the LEADERS ALL COUNTRIES step up and do this...MOTHER NATURE will not tolierate your stupity to much more.

[USMC-Mom]

I'll second that!!
I love the last paragraph.

[wtexun]

Remember Katrina trailors - send them to Japan.

[wtexun]

Anyone know where all those empty FEMA trailors were stored after Katrina ? How about sending them to Japan.