Tokyo: The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture has risen to 39, according to the prefectural government, as communities continue to deal with extensive damage and disrupted essential services.
The magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck Japan’s Kyushu Island at around 4.27 pm on July 28, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The quake had a relatively shallow focal depth of approximately 10 kilometres, contributing to significant damage across parts of the region.
Water and power supplies disrupted
The earthquake damaged buildings and infrastructure across Kumamoto, leaving residents without reliable access to essential services. Water and electricity supplies were disrupted in several areas, adding to the difficulties faced by communities recovering from the disaster.
In Uki, around 10,000 households were reportedly still without running water on Friday. Residents have appealed for additional supplies as authorities work to restore normal services.
Large consignments of drinking water and other essential supplies were expected to reach affected communities from Saturday, according to local reports.
Evacuation centres face difficult conditions
The disaster has also created challenging conditions for people staying in evacuation centres. High temperatures have added to the discomfort, increasing concerns about the health and wellbeing of elderly residents and other vulnerable people.
Authorities and emergency teams continue to assess damage, provide essential supplies and support residents affected by the earthquake.
The rising death toll has underlined the severity of the disaster, while recovery efforts remain focused on restoring water, electricity and other basic services across the affected areas.