TOKYO (AFP) - Japan gave up its search Wednesday for 10 people missing in a deadly earthquake last month due to concerns for the safety of rescue workers, the mayor of the worst-hit city told reporters.

Another 13 people were earlier confirmed dead in the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Japan on June 14.

"The decision was heartbreaking and heavy... but I reasoned that it was difficult to continue rescue operations when they face dangers such as landslides," said Isamu Sato, mayor of Kurihara in Miyagi prefecture.

"I think that the road to take is to do our best for the recovery" of the city, he said.

Rescue work had been occasionally hampered due to seasonal rain that raised fears of mudslides and forced workers to search through sludge.

Sato said he notified the families of the missing of his decision.

Another 260 people were injured in the earthquake, which was the most powerful to strike inland in the tremor-prone nation in eight years.

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