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Japan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 34
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- The death toll from the magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, has risen to 34, with rescue efforts ongoing amid intense heat.
- The earthquake, centered near Uto city on Kyushu island, caused building collapses, fires, and trapped people in structures, including a shopping center and a paper factory.
- Rescue teams have recovered bodies and rescued survivors, but some individuals remain unaccounted for, particularly in the collapsed shopping center and factory.
- Approximately 100,000 households remain without water and nearly 20,000 without power, while around 9,800 people are sheltering in evacuation centers facing sweltering temperatures above 95°F (35°C).
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the urgent need to support victims and maintain safe, sanitary conditions in evacuation centers amid the ongoing crisis.
