Death toll from Japan's Kumamoto earthquake rises to 38
Tokyo, Aug 2
The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture has risen to 38, the prefectural government said Sunday.
At a disaster response headquarters meeting held Sunday morning, Kumamoto Prefecture Government officials announced that 38 people had died, including those whose deaths are still being investigated to determine whether they were caused by the magnitude 7.1 tremor, Xinhua news agency reported.
At a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, where the earthquake caused a smokestack to collapse, rescue teams pulled 10 people from the site. Eight of them were confirmed dead, while two sustained injuries. Another person who had been missing was found in the rubble shortly after noon on Thursday, though the individual's condition has not yet been disclosed.
At Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, where a large explosion occurred after the earthquake, 12 people have been rescued. Seven of them were confirmed dead, and five were injured. Police and firefighters are continuing search operations to determine whether anyone else remains trapped inside the building.
More than 9,400 people are currently staying at 406 evacuation shelters across the prefecture, officials said.
The earthquake has also left approximately 79,700 households without water. Local authorities said there is currently no timetable for restoring water service in any of the affected municipalities.
Meanwhile, around 19,000 households remained without electricity as of Thursday afternoon. According to Kyushu Electric Power, power is expected to be restored by Friday evening if repair work proceeds as planned.
On Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held the Second Extraordinary Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting for the Kumamoto earthquake. Kumamoto Prefecture Governor Kimura, as well as Deputy Minister Tsushima of the Cabinet Office, attended the meeting virtually.
Takaichi offered condolences to the victims and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families. She assured that the Japanese government is working swiftly to assess the damage caused by the earthquake, while relevant ministries and agencies are working to address initial responses.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The fact that they're still investigating the deaths shows how complex this disaster is. It's sad that modern technology still can't prevent loss of life from earthquakes. Japan's resilience is remarkable though - they'll rebuild stronger, just like they always do.
Deeply saddened by this news. 38 lives lost is not just a number - each one is a person with dreams and family. The smokestack collapse at the factory is particularly concerning. Japan's disaster management is top-notch, but even they can't fully protect against a 7.1 magnitude quake.
This brings back memories of our own earthquake experiences in India. 9,400 people in shelters and 79,000 households without water - that's a massive humanitarian crisis. Japan's government seems to be responding well, but the long-term recovery will need international support too.
My deepest condolences to Japan during this difficult time. The rescue teams are showing incredible courage pulling people from the rubble. It's also concerning that power restoration could take until Friday - that's a long time without electricity for 19,000 households in a disaster zone.
The explosion at Aeon Mall is terrifying. Shopping centers are usually considered safe during earthquakes, but this shows we never know what could happen. I hope they find any remaining survivors soon. Japan's PM is handling this well, but the priority should be helping those still trapped.
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