Death toll in Japan quake, tsunami tops 12,000

The death toll from the recent 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami in has surpassed 12,000, while nearly 15,500 remain unaccounted for, the Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday.

The twin disaster that hit Japan on March 11 also triggered a number of explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which caused several radioactive leaks.

Over 165,000 people have been evacuated from the disaster zone and accommodated in temporary refuge centers across the country, while tens of thousands more still do not have electricity or running water.

The Japanese government has said the damage from the disaster could total $310 billion.

Meanwhile, Russian emergencies services said on Sunday that radiation levels are within the norm in Russia's Far East and the danger of radioactive pollution in the region following the nuclear crisis at Fukushima is unlikely.