An elder woman prays for the victims of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake in Higashi Amusement Park in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, on Jan. 17.

Among them, only 37 were found within 24 hours of their deaths while others were found days later, including one whose body was found 19 days after he passed away.

Eighty-three percent died of natural causes and 10 percent committed suicide, the study found.

It said 57 percent were 70 or older. Thirty-eight were men and 31 women.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 21, 2006
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