Japan's coast guard rescued a dog three weeks after a devastating earthquake and tsunami that rocked the country on March 11 killing thousands, the Kyodo news agency reported.
The rescuers discovered the dog on the roof of a partially destroyed building on Friday. After efforts to save the dog using a helicopter failed, they used a boat and succeeded.
Japan's Self-Defense Forces and U.S. military started on Friday a large-scale operation to search for people still missing since the tragedy, NHK Television reported.
The confirmed death toll in Japan's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami grew to 11,734, NHK TV also said Friday. The total death count from the disaster could rise much higher as 16,375 are listed as missing.
The twin disaster also triggered a number of explosions at Japan's Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Radiation levels are high around the crippled plant but there is no immediate threat of a massive radioactive contamination.
MOSCOW, April 2 (RIA Novosti)
