The death toll from the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, has risen to 38, with more than 9,200 people still in shelters. According to reports, the quake had a magnitude of 7.1 and registered a maximum of 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, the strongest level on that scale.
The earthquake struck on Tuesday at 4:27 pm local time. So far 38 people have been confirmed dead, including two whose cause of death is still under investigation, and 9,226 people are staying across 210 shelters. An explosion at an Aeon shopping mall in the affected area killed seven workers and injured five, and search-and-rescue work there concluded on Saturday.
Water shortages amid extreme heat
Beyond the quake itself, a heat wave has deepened the hardship. Temperatures topped 37 degrees Celsius in some areas, and 30 people were taken to hospital by ambulance for heatstroke on Saturday alone. At the same time, about 69,400 households remain without running water, and repairs to water infrastructure are ongoing.
In terms of building damage, 181 structures were destroyed, 20 suffered major partial damage, 225 were partially destroyed and 1,639 sustained minor damage, with another 1,584 still under assessment, bringing the total number of affected structures to 3,649.
Rescue and relief continue
Facing the persistent heat, local authorities have deployed portable spot coolers at shelters and increased water supplies to ease the impact on affected residents, especially the elderly and children.
From rescue to shelter, from water to heat protection, the aftermath of the Kumamoto quake remains a race against time and temperature. Restoring infrastructure quickly and securing basic living conditions for those affected is the key task ahead.
