apan's emperor said Wednesday he was praying for the safety of his people in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, as the number of dead and missing rose above 13,000.
Japan's police agency said 4,340 people were confirmed dead and 9,083 missing, broadcaster NHK reported.
But this was expected to rise, with the mayor of Ishinomaki in hard-hit Miyagi prefecture saying 10,000 people out of his city's 164,000 population were unaccounted for.
"The number of people killed is increasing day by day and we do not know how many people have fallen victim," Emperor Akihito said, in an historic televised address that marked the first time he has intervened in a national crisis. "I pray for the safety of as many people as possible."