Kumamoto Prefecture Faces Rising Death Toll and Heat Risks After Earthquake

Takashi Kimura

The quake struck Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday. As sweltering temperatures reached an extreme 36.6 degrees Celsius (97.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in Kumamoto city on Saturday and threatened to rise further, concerns over heat-related illnesses mounted. Takashi Kimura called on evacuees taking shelter in cars to keep vehicles fueled for air conditioning or to consider moving to air-conditioned evacuation centers. More than 9,000 people remain in crowded shelters such as school gyms and community centers that often lack air conditioning, while others continue sleeping in cars and parks.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told a government task force meeting Saturday that water, food, portable toilets, air conditioners, and partitions are being delivered to improve evacuation centers. Major challenges remain, including a lack of fresh water affecting nearly 47,000 homes and fuel shortages.

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Aeon Mall in Kashima

Authorities on Saturday concluded a dayslong search-and-rescue operation at an Aeon Mall in Kashima, where an explosion following the earthquake caused walls and a second floor to collapse. Rescuers extracted five people and the bodies of seven others from the site, which company officials believe was hit by a gas leak after about 3,000 shoppers had evacuated to the parking lot. At another hard-hit location, a collapsed chimney at the Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro city trapped 11 employees, resulting in nine confirmed deaths and two rescues.

Self Defense troops

Officials reported that the earthquake has left 105 people injured in Kumamoto, with two additional deaths being investigated to determine if they are quake-related. Search operations are ongoing with thousands of police, Self Defense troops, rescue workers, and sniffing dogs deployed. Prefectural assessments indicate over 180 homes were destroyed and more than 3,800 buildings damaged, while reports of power loss have dropped to fewer than 900 households.