Quake evacuees sent to local prison

Japan has resorted to opening a prison to those left homeless by two deadly earthquakes, officials said on Tuesday, highlighting the challenges faced in dealing with tens of thousands who have fled their homes.

Two major earthquakes and about 600 smaller tremors have rocked the southwestern island of Kyushu since late Thursday, leaving a total of 44 people dead and more than 1,000 injured - 208 of them seriously - in Japan's worst humanitarian disaster in five years.

Many who abandoned their damaged or destroyed homes have had to sleep in temporary accommodation, huddle in makeshift shelters or even sleep in their cars, and local media have reported problems in delivering food and other essentials as well as raising health concerns.