Kumamoto Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 34 as 7.1 Quake Strains Water and Power
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 31
Kumamoto Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 34 as 7.1 Quake Strains Water and Power
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 31
Summary
34 people are now confirmed dead in Kumamoto Prefecture, up from 25, and authorities said six more were seriously injured after Tuesday’s earthquake.
The magnitude 7.1 quake struck near Uki in southwestern Japan, cutting power to about 40,000 homes, halting rail services and prompting tsunami warnings across parts of Kyushu.
Nearly half the deaths were tied to two incidents — structural damage at a Nippon Paper Industries mill and a possible gas explosion at an Aeon store.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to brace for further strong aftershocks as water shortages and summer heat complicate relief operations.
Japan, one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, is still marked by a major Kumamoto quake a decade ago that killed 275 people.