Japan earthquake: Death toll rises to 28 as survivors face water shortages and extreme heat

Residents across southern Japan are struggling with disrupted water and electricity supplies two days after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture.

At least 28 people have been confirmed dead after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southern Japan, as rescue teams and residents battle water shortages, power cuts and extreme summer heat.

The earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, toppling houses, damaging roads and water mains and forcing major manufacturers to suspend operations.

The Kumamoto prefectural government said most of the confirmed deaths occurred at a severely damaged Nippon Paper Industries mill and at an Aeon shopping centre, where authorities are investigating a possible gas explosion.

Another six people were reported to be in cardiopulmonary arrest.

When deaths that are still being investigated for a possible connection to the earthquake are included, the overall toll stands at 30, according to the prefectural government.

Residents struggle without water and electricity

Many of the approximately 58,000 households in the port city of Yatsushiro remained without running water or electricity on Thursday, two days after the earthquake.

City official Akio Matsushita, who is helping coordinate relief efforts, said it was unclear how long repairs to badly damaged water mains would take.

“Because of the summer heat, the lack of water is especially difficult,” he said at Yatsushiro City Hall.

The building’s toilets were no longer functioning, forcing officials to install emergency toilets above sewer manholes outside as temperatures reached around 35 degrees Celsius amid high humidity.

Matsushita said restoring the water system would require extensive work and that authorities currently had no timetable for completing repairs.

Residents collecting emergency supplies from Self-Defense Force water trucks were limited to five litres of water each.

The few shops that remained open were crowded with people searching for essential supplies, while long queues formed at petrol stations.

Authorities warn of heatstroke

Officials have warned that temperatures could approach 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend, increasing the risk of heatstroke among residents in evacuation centres and areas without electricity.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces are installing around 300 air-conditioning units at evacuation centres and other priority locations across Kumamoto.

Military trucks have also transported water tanks to community centres and schools throughout Yatsushiro, repeatedly returning to emergency storage tanks beneath the city hall to refill.

Authorities said infrastructure repairs and the delivery of water and electricity remained among their most urgent priorities.

Rescue and relief operations continue

Rescue personnel, police, firefighters and military teams are continuing to search damaged buildings and industrial sites.

The Aeon shopping centre, the largest in the prefecture with around 200 shops, suffered extensive damage. Part of the building was torn open, exposing steel structures and scattering debris across its car park.

Authorities are investigating whether a gas explosion occurred at the shopping centre following the earthquake.

The Nippon Paper Industries mill also suffered major structural damage. Earlier reports said several people were missing after part of a tower or chimney collapsed at the facility.

Hospitals across the affected region have treated dozens of injured people, while some medical facilities have struggled to operate because of electricity and water disruptions.

Vietnamese factory worker among victims

One of those killed was reportedly a newly married Vietnamese factory worker who is survived by his wife and seven-month-old child, according to Vietnamese media.

His wife, Vu Thi Thuy, said she had spoken to him by video call on the night before the earthquake and had not imagined it would be their final conversation.

Major manufacturers halt production

The earthquake has also disrupted industrial production across Kumamoto and other parts of the Kyushu region, an important centre for Japan’s automobile and semiconductor industries.

Toyota, Honda, Nissan, automotive supplier Aisin and Sony halted some operations following the earthquake.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, evacuated employees and briefly suspended operations at its local facility while assessing possible damage.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said it was too early to estimate the earthquake’s broader economic impact.

He said the government’s immediate priority was to restore ports and other critical infrastructure while monitoring potential disruption to automobile and semiconductor supply chains.

Authorities remain alert for further earthquakes

Japan’s Meteorological Agency has urged residents in the areas affected by the strongest tremors to remain alert for further powerful earthquakes.

Officials have also warned of an increased risk of landslides, particularly where roads, slopes and other infrastructure have already been damaged.

Japan lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences frequent seismic activity. Around one-fifth of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or higher occur in or near the country.

Strict construction standards and regular emergency drills help limit casualties, but major earthquakes can still cause severe regional disruption.

Kumamoto was struck by two powerful earthquakes in April 2016 that killed more than 260 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

Residents of Yatsushiro said Tuesday’s shaking felt more violent than anything they had experienced during the 2016 disaster.

“I had never experienced the world moving like that before,” resident Masahiro Miyamoto said. “It felt as though my body became weightless and was thrown through the air.”

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