Agadir – The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Southwestern Japan has risen to 34, as emergency crews continue search-and-rescue operations and thousands of displaced residents face extreme summer heat in evacuation centers.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the updated death toll on Thursday, two days after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island, leaving widespread destruction to homes, commercial buildings, and critical infrastructure.
Rescue teams remain on the ground searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures, particularly at heavily damaged sites including a shopping mall and an industrial facility.
Authorities said several of the fatalities occurred after part of an Aeon shopping center collapsed before an explosion tore through the building about an hour later. While the cause of the blast remains under investigation, the company’s president said it was “very likely” linked to a gas explosion.
The earthquake left thousands without shelter and basic services. Around 9,000 people are staying in evacuation centers, while more than 30,000 households remained without electricity as of Wednesday.
Adding to the humanitarian challenge, Kumamoto is experiencing intense summer temperatures that are forecast to reach as high as 39 degrees Celsius in the coming days. Officials have urged both evacuees and rescue workers to take precautions against heatstroke.
In response to the situation, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the deployment of 300 air conditioning units to the affected region, with half designated for evacuation centers to help protect displaced residents from the extreme heat.
Authorities have also recorded more than 100 aftershocks since Tuesday’s earthquake, prompting many residents to spend the nights in their vehicles rather than return to damaged homes for fear of additional tremors.
