- The death toll from the major earthquake that hit Japan on Tuesday rose to at least 23 as the inside a badly damaged shopping mall and collapsed houses in the country’s south-west continued.
- The magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck the Kumamoto prefecture on the island of Kyushu has injured at least 62, the prefectural government said.
- Almost 5,000 Self-Defence Forces personnel deployed to the region will be challenged by temperatures rising to 35C on Thursday, officials said, and a significant magnitude 5.8 aftershock hit overnight to further complicate recovery efforts.
- Eight people have been pulled from the rubble of the mall. Of them, three have died.
- In the first reported death of a foreign national, a Vietnamese technical intern was killed after a crane fell on him at a factory where he worked, according to the Vietnamese government.
- Nearly 34,900 homes were still without electricity and 15,000 homes without running water, Kumamoto officials said.
- More than 8,800 people left their homes to stay in over 400 shelters, where power sources were being added to provide air conditioning.
- A government spokesperson said on Wednesday more than 9,000 people had sought refuge in 506 shelters in three regions of Kyushu island.
- Japan’s Geospatial Information Authority said some ground surfaces were displaced by as much as 87 centimetres in the quake.
- Takaichi said the region had suffered extensive damage, including collapsed buildings, fires and damage to roads.
- Toyota said it would halt operations at three plants in the region through Friday as it weighed the quake’s impact on suppliers and logistics.
The death toll from the major earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture has risen to at least 23, with over 62 individuals injured, according to local officials. The 6.8 magnitude quake struck on Tuesday, causing extensive damage, including collapsed buildings and fires.26
Rescue operations are facing significant challenges due to aftershocks and rising temperatures, which are expected to reach 35°C on Thursday. Nearly 5,000 Self-Defence Forces personnel have been deployed to assist in recovery efforts, but a significant magnitude 5.8 aftershock further complicates the situation.3
As of now, 34,900 homes remain without electricity, and 15,000 homes lack running water. Over 8,800 people have evacuated to more than 400 shelters, where officials are working to provide air conditioning as temperatures rise. The Geospatial Information Authority reported that some ground surfaces were displaced by as much as 87 centimeters during the quake.7
In a tragic development, a Vietnamese technical intern was killed when a crane fell on him at a factory, marking the first reported death of a foreign national due to the earthquake. Takaichi, a government spokesperson, noted the extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads and buildings, while Toyota announced the suspension of operations at three plants in the region as they assess the impact on logistics and suppliers.451011
“The magnitude 6.8 earthquake has injured at least 62 people, with nearly 34,900 homes still without electricity and 15,000 without running water. Over 9,000 people have sought refuge in 506 shelters across three regions of Kyushu, as temperatures are expected to rise to 35C, complicating recovery efforts.”
The Guardian
