The death toll from the recent 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, has risen to 34, officials confirmed Thursday. The quake struck on Tuesday, causing extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and power lines across Kyushu Island.
Rescue teams remain active in searching for survivors amid ongoing aftershocks, with over 100 tremors recorded since the initial quake. A collapsed section of the Aeon shopping mall, where a gas explosion also occurred, has been a major focus of recovery operations.
Approximately 9,000 residents displaced by the disaster are currently housed in evacuation centres. However, rising temperatures forecast to reach 39°C have raised concerns about heat-related illnesses. Authorities have dispatched 300 air conditioners, half of which will be installed in these centres to help vulnerable evacuees, including a significant number of elderly individuals.
Power outages continue to affect more than 30,000 households, complicating relief efforts. At one evacuation centre, staff reported multiple cases of heatstroke, with some patients requiring hospitalisation. Many survivors are resorting to sleeping in their vehicles due to fear of further aftershocks.
In addition to the shopping mall, a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro city partially collapsed, resulting in at least five deaths and trapping several workers. Rescue efforts are ongoing to reach those still inside.
Local residents expressed shock at the quake’s intensity. Hiroko Ogata, a 75-year-old restaurant owner, described the violent shaking and her fear during the event, noting it was the strongest quake she had ever experienced in her lifetime.
