2:45am
As temperatures plummet, millions of people are spending a fourth night without foods, water or heating.
Overwhelmed shelters are housing 550,000 people along Japan's east coast after the earthquake and tsunami killed at least 10,000 people. Kyodo news agency reports that authorities have lost contact with a further 30,000 citizens.
In Ishinomaki, Patrick Fuller, of the International Federation of the Red Cross, says:
It is the elderly who have been hit the hardest.
The tsunami engulfed half the town and many lie shivering uncontrollably under blankets. They are suffering from hypothermia having been stranded in their homes without water or electricity.
Snow is expected within the next few days.
