- In Kumamoto Prefecture, residents set out debris under intense heat, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made her first visit since the magnitude 7.1 quake as heat and water shortages added to the challenges.
- The quake killed 38 people, including one who died of apparent heat stroke while sheltering in a car, and the Japan Meteorological Agency predicted temperatures near 40 C.
- More than 46,000 households remained without water, while fuel shortages and sweltering heat stoked fears of heat-related illness.
- More than 8,500 people remained in crowded shelters, many without air-conditioning, while others slept in cars or outside their homes.
- Takaichi flew over the affected areas in an army helicopter and visited one of the area’s best-equipped shelters, prompting social-media criticism that her visit distorted reality.
- Gov. Takashi Kimura stressed the “abnormal heat” and sought more support for evacuation centres lacking clean water and medical care; Takaichi said the government would quickly examine what it could do.
- The earthquake left 114 people injured, destroyed some 700 homes, and damaged more than 11,300 buildings.
- Residents put out debris, broken furniture and damaged appliances for collection, temporary housing construction began in Uki and Hikawa, and some hotels offered rooms to evacuees.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the quake-affected region of Kumamoto on Monday, where cleanup efforts are hampered by extreme heat following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck on Tuesday.12
The quake has resulted in 38 fatalities, with one victim succumbing to heat stroke while seeking shelter in a car.
As temperatures soar close to 40°C, over 46,000 households remain without water, and more than 8,500 individuals are housed in emergency shelters lacking adequate air-conditioning.
Takaichi's visit included an aerial tour of the affected areas and a stop at one of the best-equipped shelters, which has drawn criticism for not reflecting the dire conditions faced by many evacuees.
Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura emphasized the challenges posed by the
“The magnitude 7.1 quake killed 38 people, injured 114 and destroyed some 700 homes; more than 46,000 households lack water and 8,500 people remain in shelters without air-conditioning. Takaichi's helicopter tour and shelter stop drew social-media criticism that her visit distorted reality, with Kumamoto Gov. Takashi Kimura stressing the "abnormal heat."”
The Globe and Mail
