- A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday.
- The confirmed death toll reached 34, and more than 9,000 people were in temporary shelters where air conditioning was being provided ahead of predicted 36C (97F) temperatures.
- Rescuers with search dogs were still looking for survivors, including at the wrecked shopping centre in Kashima, where thousands were trapped on a collapsed second floor and an explosion likely caused by a gas leak occurred.
- Many evacuees resorted to sleeping in their cars, but staying cool remained hard because the air-con depended on fuel and petrol deliveries were scarce.
- Utilities remained disrupted: over 79,000 homes had no tap water and the number of households without power had fallen to the hundreds.
- Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, confirmed seven deaths at the mall and 11 rescues, and said a paper factory search ended after a chimney collapse killed nine.
- There were concerns about disruption to semiconductor and vehicle supply chains because Kumamoto is a major industrial hub; Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) evacuated staff, then gradually resumed operations after safety checks.
- Authorities had not yet said how many people remained unaccounted for.
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, leading to a rising death toll of 34 confirmed fatalities. As of now, 9,000 people remain in temporary shelters, grappling with extreme heat conditions predicted to reach 36C (97F) on Friday.123
Many evacuees are struggling to stay cool, as air conditioning units require fuel to operate, and petrol deliveries have been scarce in the region. While the number of households without power has decreased to the hundreds, authorities report that over 79,000 homes still lack access to tap water.78
Rescue operations continue, with search dogs deployed to locate survivors, particularly at a shopping center in Kashima where seven people have been confirmed dead and 11 rescued. The earthquake also caused an explosion, likely due to a gas leak, further complicating rescue efforts.456
Minoru Kihara, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, confirmed that the search has concluded at a paper factory in the Yatsushiro area, where a collapsed chimney resulted in nine fatalities. Concerns are growing that the earthquake could disrupt semiconductor and vehicle supply chains, as Kumamoto is a significant industrial hub. Chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company evacuated staff during the quake but is gradually resuming operations after assessing the safety of their structure.1011121314
Authorities have not disclosed how many individuals remain unaccounted for, as rescuers continue their search for missing persons.15
“Japan's chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed seven deaths and 11 rescues at the Kashima shopping centre, while a paper factory search ended after a chimney collapse killed nine. More than 79,000 homes still lack tap water, and chipmaker TSMC evacuated staff but was gradually resuming operations after safety checks.”
