Japanese officials reported 34 deaths in Kumamoto Prefecture following Tuesday’s powerful earthquake, but they continued reviewing nine cases to determine whether the disaster caused them.
The prefectural government had confirmed 25 deaths as disaster-related by Thursday afternoon. Officials also reported 86 injuries, including five serious, as search teams worked at a shattered shopping mall, a damaged paper mill and collapsed homes.
The Japan Meteorological Agency registered the July 28 earthquake at magnitude 7.1. It struck at approximately 4:27 p.m. local time at a depth of about 6 miles near Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the initial earthquake damaged buildings and roads, disrupted transportation and knocked out power across the region.
Search continues at mall and factory
Rescuers had pulled 12 people from the wreckage at the Aeon Mall in Kashima by Thursday; seven died, the Associated Press reported. The company said workers evacuated approximately 3,000 customers before an explosion tore through another part of the mall nearly an hour after the earthquake.
Authorities were investigating whether a gas leak caused the explosion. Rescuers continued searching the partially collapsed structure for anyone still trapped.
At a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, a collapsed chimney and other structural damage killed eight people. Teams rescued 10 others, and one person remained missing, Kumamoto’s prefectural disaster team said.
More than 100 small aftershocks followed the initial earthquake through Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Heat and outages deepen the emergency
The prefectural government counted 9,450 evacuees in 406 shelters Thursday afternoon. Nearly 19,000 homes remained without electricity, while 79,700 lacked running water. Other residents slept in vehicles or tents because of damaged homes and continuing aftershocks.
Temperatures rose above 91 degrees Thursday, and officials warned that the region could approach 104 degrees over the weekend. The heat, combined with limited water and electricity, increased the danger of heatstroke and dehydration.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces deployed approximately 4,600 personnel and transported about 300 air-conditioning units for shelters and other locations. Military teams also delivered water and emergency supplies.
“Fresh water is so valuable,” resident Akiko Inazaki told the AP. She said she had consumed so little water to conserve supplies that she nearly suffered heatstroke.
“We have to make sure elderly people are not developing heatstrokes or dehydration,” Dr. Yutaka Kobayashi said while assessing conditions at evacuation centers.
Government coordinates response
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the central government would coordinate rescue work and prioritize the restoration of electricity, gas and water.
“The needs on the ground are constantly changing,” Takaichi said. “To put to rest the people’s feelings of uncertainty, we will do all that needs to be done.”
Provided by Dallas Express
