Heavy snow falls on quake-hit Japanese town

The number of people unaccounted for after Japan's New Year's Day earthquake more than tripled on Monday to 323 while the death toll rose to 168, according to local authorities.  

A heavy dumping of snow meanwhile complicated relief efforts a week after the 7.5-magnitude quake, with more than 2,000 people still missing and many others lacking power or forced to take shelter in crowded emergency sites.

The Japan Meteorological Agency urged people in the prefectures to stay on alert for disruptions to transportation systems, damage to agricultural facilities, snow pileup on electrical wires and trees, icy roads and other possible hazards.