Death toll rises to 23 as quake hits southwestern Japan
At least 23 people were killed and dozens injured after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu, leaving thousands without power and many sheltering in evacuation centers.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, killing at least 23 people and injuring 63, according to local authorities. The disaster caused an explosion at a mall, the collapse of a factory chimney and extensive damage to homes, leaving nearly 23,000 residences without electricity.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters that a police tally put the death count at 28, though some cases are still under investigation and may not be directly linked to the quake.
Thousands of residents remain in roughly 400 evacuation shelters set up in gyms and other large venues, while many others are sleeping in cars or tents due to ongoing aftershocks and lack of utilities. The Ministry of Environment issued a heat-stroke alert as temperatures were expected to reach 33 °C (91 °F).
"Fresh water is so valuable," said Akiko Inazaki, a resident in her 30s who is staying in a tent at her home.
Local officials distributed bottled water and instant rice, and Ground Self-Defense Force personnel delivered fresh water on trolleys. Town official Yuzuru Tamura warned that emergency food supplies such as canned bread and instant rice were running low.
The most severe damage occurred at the Aeon Mall in Kashima, where an explosion and floor collapse trapped shoppers. Six deaths were confirmed at the mall site, with 11 people rescued. In the Yatsushiro area, a collapsed chimney at a Nippon Paper Industries factory resulted in eight deaths, ten rescues and one person still missing.
Rescue operations continue as families of the missing await news, and authorities work to restore power and water to affected communities.