Tokyo, August 8: The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan on July 28 has risen to 39, according to provincial government reports on Saturday. Over 6,500 people are still residing in relief and evacuation centers.
Officials stated that out of the 39 deceased, 36 died directly from the 7.1 magnitude earthquake. One additional death, reportedly due to heatstroke, is considered related to the disaster, while the causes of two other deaths are under investigation for potential links to the earthquake.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the earthquake has resulted in 205 casualties in Kumamoto Prefecture, with 23 individuals suffering serious injuries.
The areas most affected by the earthquake recorded a maximum intensity of 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, the highest level, making it difficult for people to stand or move without crawling, as they could be thrown into the air by the tremors.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi visited the affected areas on Monday to assess relief and rehabilitation efforts. She assured those impacted by the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that “the government will do everything it can.”
Dressed in disaster response gear, the Prime Minister visited an evacuation center in Hikawa City and met with the affected individuals. She also conducted an aerial inspection of the Aeon Shopping Mall in Kashima City, where an explosion following the earthquake resulted in seven fatalities, and inspected a paper plant in Yatsushiro, where nine lives were lost.
Aerial footage captured by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK on July 28 revealed extensive damage to buildings caused by the earthquake, with several parts of an external wall collapsing, exposing the internal steel framework. A section of the roof was also seen collapsing, leaving a large hole.
Authorities now face the challenge of providing safe shelter for the affected, restoring damaged infrastructure, and returning normalcy to life in the earthquake-impacted areas.
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