The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kyushu, Japan’s southern main island, on Tuesday, killing 38 people and injuring 114, according to prefectural authorities. Officials said one person died from apparent heat stroke while sheltering inside a vehicle after the quake, while another death remains under investigation.

Heat and Water Shortages Hamper Recovery

Extreme summer temperatures have added to the challenges facing thousands of displaced residents.

More than 46,000 households remained without running water on Monday, while several communities also reported fuel shortages.

The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), raising concerns about dehydration and heat-related illnesses.

More than 8,500 people continued to stay in evacuation centers, including schools, community halls and gymnasiums. Many of the facilities lack air conditioning. Others have chosen to sleep in parked vehicles or outside damaged homes.

Residents spent the day clearing debris, damaged furniture and household appliances as local authorities organized waste collection. Construction of temporary housing also began in the towns of Uki and Hikawa, while hotels and inns opened additional rooms for evacuees.

Disaster experts have long warned that overcrowded shelters and limited sanitation can increase health risks following major earthquakes.

Prime Minister Promises Additional Support

Prime Minister Takaichi toured the disaster zone by military helicopter before visiting an evacuation center equipped with air conditioning, cardboard beds and privacy partitions.

Images of the visit prompted criticism on social media, with some users arguing that many shelters across Kumamoto lack similar facilities.

During a meeting with the prime minister, Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura highlighted the severe heat affecting displaced residents and requested additional government assistance to improve conditions at evacuation centers.

He cited shortages of clean water and medical services as immediate priorities.

Takaichi said the government would review the requests and move quickly to provide additional support where needed.

Shopping Mall Explosion Under Scrutiny

Questions also continued to surround the explosion at a collapsed shopping mall that claimed several lives after the earthquake.

Habita, a retailer operating inside Aeon Mall in Kashima, acknowledged that it had instructed two employees who later died to return to the building and place sales proceeds into a safe if conditions allowed.

Company executives attended the wake of 22-year-old employee Kurumi Otake on Sunday and apologized to her family.

Sales manager Goji Yuse confirmed the instruction had been given before the explosion.

“I wish someone had stopped her. My daughter is not coming back,” Otake’s mother told company representatives.

Mall officials believe a gas leak caused the explosion after about 3,000 shoppers had already evacuated the building. Some employees, however, remained inside.

Rescue teams later pulled five survivors from the debris and recovered the bodies of seven victims.

Recovery Effort Continues

Authorities said the earthquake destroyed about 700 homes and damaged more than 11,300 buildings across Kumamoto Prefecture.

Emergency crews continue restoring essential services while local governments expand temporary housing and support thousands of residents displaced by one of Japan’s deadliest earthquakes this year.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the southern island of Kyushu, disrupting transportation, damaging critical infrastructure and forcing thousands of residents into evacuation shelters as authorities continued assessing the full extent of the disaster.

The earthquake has renewed concerns about disaster preparedness in one of the world’s most seismically active countries, where memories of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquake remain strong.

Rescue Operations Continue at Damaged Sites

Soldiers and emergency responders searched multiple damaged locations, including a shopping mall in the town of Kashima where part of the building collapsed following an explosion believed to have been caused by a gas leak.

Japan’s Self-Defense Forces joined rescue crews at the damaged Aeon Mall, where the collapse of the second floor trapped people inside. Authorities had not announced how many individuals might still be missing at the site.

At a factory operated by Nippon Paper Industries Co. in Yatsushiro, a collapsed chimney trapped workers beneath debris. Kumamoto emergency officials said seven people were believed to remain trapped as of Wednesday, while rescuers had recovered two survivors and two bodies.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said rescue efforts remained the government’s highest priority and urged emergency personnel to continue searching for survivors.

“There are people who are still waiting to be rescued, and it’s a race against time,” Takaichi said.

Thousands Remain Without Essential Services

The earthquake disrupted electricity, gas and communications across parts of the affected region.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said approximately 36,900 homes remained without electricity, while about 9,500 households continued to lack gas service. Communications networks also remained unavailable in some communities.

More than 9,000 people were staying in over 500 evacuation shelters, where authorities worked to provide additional electrical power so air conditioning could operate during an ongoing heat wave. Temperatures in the region were forecast to exceed 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

The government said it was preparing deliveries of food, water and other essential supplies to affected communities.

Takaichi also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and urged evacuees to take precautions against heat-related illness while remaining in shelters.

Transportation and Historic Sites Sustain Damage

Transportation services remained disrupted as engineers inspected infrastructure for damage.

The Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train service remained suspended, while Aso Kumamoto Airport gradually resumed operations after one of its runways was temporarily closed for inspections. Officials warned that some flight cancellations were still possible.

Kumamoto Castle, one of the region’s best-known historical landmarks, also sustained damage, with sections of its stone walls affected by the earthquake, according to Kyodo News. The castle has been undergoing restoration work since suffering extensive damage during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.

Residents said the latest earthquake revived memories of the earlier disaster. Hiroki Shimoda, an official in Mifune town, said the shaking reminded him of the 2016 earthquake, which killed at least 50 people.

Authorities continued search-and-rescue operations while evaluating structural damage across the region, warning that the full impact of the disaster remains under assessment.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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The most severe structural damage was reported at the Aeon Mall in Kashima Town, where part of the building’s second floor collapsed. Local police said an undetermined number of people remained trapped inside. Kyodo News reported that approximately 20 to 30 employees were missing, while several others were rescued from the debris and transported to nearby hospitals.

The earthquake struck about 900 kilometers (540 miles) southwest of Tokyo. Japan’s Meteorological Agency briefly issued a tsunami advisory for the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas along the western coast of Kumamoto Prefecture and nearby areas before lifting the advisory about two hours later.

Rescue Operations Continue as Authorities Assess Damage

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said officials had received reports of damage to roads, bridges and buildings, along with localized power outages and fires, although the full extent of the destruction was still being assessed.

Japan’s Defense Ministry dispatched aircraft to survey the affected areas and assist with damage assessments.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said there were no immediate reports of significant damage to major public facilities or other critical infrastructure.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority also reported no abnormalities at three nearby nuclear power plants following the earthquake.

Hospitals Treat Dozens of Injured

According to Kyodo News, a hospital in Yatsushiro admitted about 40 injured people, while another hospital in Kumamoto City received approximately 50 patients.

Transportation across Kyushu was heavily disrupted as operators suspended Shinkansen bullet train services and several local rail lines to conduct safety inspections.

Kyodo also reported that a train derailed and overturned onto its side at Yatsushiro Station, while sections of the historic Kumamoto Castle sustained damage, including collapsed stone walls.

Operations at Aso Kumamoto Airport were suspended after authorities closed the runway for inspections. Airport officials said there was no immediate timetable for reopening.

Residents Recall the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake

The latest earthquake revived memories of the devastating 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which claimed more than 50 lives.

“The shaking reminded me of the Kumamoto quake 10 years ago, and I was frightened,” Hiroki Shimoda, an official at the Mifune town hall, said after witnessing roof tiles falling from nearby homes.

Officials Warn of Aftershocks

Japan Meteorological Agency official Shinji Kiyomoto urged residents to remain vigilant over the next two to three days, warning that strong aftershocks remain possible.

Emergency crews continued search-and-rescue operations while authorities worked to determine how many people remained trapped inside the collapsed shopping center and assess the broader impact of the earthquake across southern Japan.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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