Fires hit Japan quake zone as rescuers race to reach survivors

TOKYO — Rescue efforts continue in Japan after at least 64 people were killed in a powerful earthquake that hit the country on New Year’s Day. Homes collapsed, buildings caught fire and roads were extensively damaged, hindering the work of rescue services. The epicentre of the 7.6 quake was the Noto peninsula, in central Japan. The Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, said that emergency services were locked in a “race against time” to rescue survivors. “More than 40 hours have passed since the disaster. We have received a lot of information about people in need of rescue and there are people waiting for help,” Kishida said Wednesday after an emergency task force meeting. He also said some 3,000 rescuers were trying…