Tokyo: The death toll from the powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture has risen to 38, according to the prefectural government. Authorities said some deaths are still being investigated to determine whether they were directly caused by the quake.
At a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, a collapsed smokestack claimed eight lives, while two workers were injured. Rescue operations are also continuing at Aeon Mall Kumamoto, where a post-earthquake explosion killed seven people and injured five. Police and firefighters are searching the site for any remaining survivors.
More than 9,400 people are taking shelter in 406 evacuation centres across the prefecture. The disaster has left nearly 79,700 households without water, while around 19,000 homes have also faced power outages. Restoration work is underway.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi chaired a high-level disaster response meeting and assured that the government is making every effort to speed up rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan. The tremor occurred at a depth of 80 km and measured 4 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale. No tsunami warning was issued, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.
