Residents take goods from their collapsed houses amid falling snow in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 7. (Video taken by Hikaru Uchida and Wataru Sekita)

Photo/Illutration A worker holds a sign for drivers waiting for their turns at a gasoline station in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 7. (Hikaru Uchida)

KANAZAWA--Snow began falling in Ishikawa Prefecture on Jan. 7, a development expected to further hamper efforts to find survivors and deliver relief goods nearly a week after the powerful earthquake in the Noto Peninsula.

The Kanazawa Local Meteorological Office said heavy snowfall was likely through the morning of Jan. 8 and warned residents to take precautions.

The prefectural government said some roads, including National Route 249, may be closed to traffic Jan. 7-8, depending on snowfall.

In Wajima, one of the hardest-hit municipalities from the New Year’s Day earthquake, some residents braved the falling snow to remove goods from their collapsed houses.

“I cannot do what I am doing if it rains or snows more. I want to do whatever I can do now because it will become colder,” said a man who was recovering items from his home and factory flattened by the magnitude-7.6 temblor. “(Snow) is definitely scary.”

Officials said 128 deaths were confirmed in Ishikawa Prefecture as of 2 p.m. on Jan. 7. The figure included 69 fatalities in Wajima, 38 in Suzu and five in Nanao.

About 30,000 people are staying in evacuation centers in the prefecture, where many areas are still without water or electricity.

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