<p>The giant wave hit the town of Ofunato in Iwate prefecture following a magnitude 9 earthquake, the Kyodo News agency reported, citing the Port and Airport Research Institute.<br /><br />Police said the confirmed death toll in the earthquake and tsunami disasters stood at 9,700. Another 16,501 people were reported missing.<br /><br />A magnitude-4.9 aftershock hit the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo at 8.56 a.m.<br />Construction work on temporary housing began in Kamaishi city in Iwate prefecture. Building work was due to begin on similar housing in Ofunato and Miyako, also in Iwate, Friday.<br /><br />The Tohoku Expressway, a major road linking Tokyo and the quake- and tsunami-hit areas in the northeast of the country, reopened to all traffic Thursday. It was previously limited to emergency vehicles and those transporting relief goods and workers.</p>
<p>The giant wave hit the town of Ofunato in Iwate prefecture following a magnitude 9 earthquake, the Kyodo News agency reported, citing the Port and Airport Research Institute.<br /><br />Police said the confirmed death toll in the earthquake and tsunami disasters stood at 9,700. Another 16,501 people were reported missing.<br /><br />A magnitude-4.9 aftershock hit the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo at 8.56 a.m.<br />Construction work on temporary housing began in Kamaishi city in Iwate prefecture. Building work was due to begin on similar housing in Ofunato and Miyako, also in Iwate, Friday.<br /><br />The Tohoku Expressway, a major road linking Tokyo and the quake- and tsunami-hit areas in the northeast of the country, reopened to all traffic Thursday. It was previously limited to emergency vehicles and those transporting relief goods and workers.</p>