Tokyo, July 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture has risen to 34, with authorities continuing to investigate several deaths to determine their connection to the disaster.
The Kumamoto Prefectural Government’s disaster response headquarters said on Thursday that nine of the 34 deaths were still under examination to establish whether they were caused by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake.
Rescue operations have continued at several affected locations. At a Nippon Paper factory in Yatsushiro City, where a smokestack collapsed following the quake, rescue teams recovered 10 people. Eight were confirmed dead, while two others were injured. Another missing person was later found in the debris, though their condition was not immediately known.
At Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, where an explosion occurred after the earthquake, 12 people were rescued. Seven of them were declared dead and five suffered injuries. Search operations by police and firefighters are continuing to determine whether anyone else remains trapped.
More than 9,400 people are currently staying in 406 evacuation centres across the prefecture, officials said.
The earthquake has disrupted essential services, leaving around 79,700 households without water. Authorities said no clear timeline has been set for restoring water supplies in affected areas.
Around 19,000 households were also without electricity as of Thursday afternoon. Kyushu Electric Power said restoration work was expected to be completed by Friday evening if conditions remained favourable.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held an emergency disaster response meeting on Wednesday and expressed condolences to those who lost their lives. She assured that the government was working to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts through relevant agencies.
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