Earthquake in Japan Claims 30 Lives as Displaced Face Intense Heat
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Tuesday that the death toll from the powerful earthquake in the southwestern part of the country has reached 30. The earthquake, which struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island with a magnitude of 6.8, caused extensive damage to homes and power transmission lines. Rescue teams in the affected area continue their efforts to find survivors. An explosion approximately an hour after a portion of a shopping center collapsed caused many fatalities.
Thousands of displaced residents have been housed in temporary shelters, but authorities report difficulties in keeping them safe amid intense heat. Weather forecasts predict temperatures could reach up to 39 degrees Celsius in the coming days in Kumamoto Prefecture. Officials have urged survivors and rescuers alike to remain vigilant against heatstroke.
More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded. Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Wednesday the dispatch of 300 air conditioners to Kumamoto, with 150 units designated for temporary shelters. By Wednesday, approximately 9,000 displaced individuals were housed in shelters, while power outages affected over 30,000 households. Many people are still spending nights in their cars due to fears of subsequent earthquakes.
The earthquake struck 10 kilometers underground on Tuesday, causing widespread damage. Hiroko Ogata, 75, from Yatsushiro City, recounted hiding under a restaurant table during the quake and feeling the table shake violently. She said, “I’ve lived here for 75 years, but I have never experienced such a strong earthquake. I felt like I was going to die.”
Authorities continue search and rescue operations, deploying numerous security personnel. Rescuers are actively clearing debris at the Aeon shopping center in Kashima City, one of the most heavily affected buildings. A section of the mall’s second floor collapsed, and about an hour after the initial quake, an explosion occurred there. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, though the Aeon shopping center chairman suggested it might have been gas-related.
The café within the shopping mall, known as the ‘Cat Café,’ confirmed on Wednesday that all 25 cats inside were safely rescued during evacuation. The Aeon mall had just reopened last month after renovations. It had sustained significant damage during the series of powerful earthquakes in April 2016, which claimed 278 lives. Rescuers are also searching debris at the Nippon Paper Factory in Yatsushiro City, where part of the building collapsed causing the deaths of at least five people. Eleven people were trapped inside, with seven successfully rescued, according to a statement released by Nippon Paper on Wednesday.