Almost one week after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture, Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, arrived in the region to inspect recovery efforts currently being challenged by extreme temperatures and limited access to water. The disaster has resulted in 38 confirmed deaths, including one individual who officials reported died from apparent heatstroke while seeking refuge in a car.
As residents work to clear debris, broken furniture, and damaged appliances from their properties, local authorities in Hikawa and Uki have initiated the construction of temporary housing. To assist the displaced, several inns and hotels have opened their rooms to evacuees. Currently, over 8,500 people are residing in emergency shelters, such as classrooms and school gyms, many of which lack air conditioning. Many other survivors continue to sleep in parks, town hall parking lots, or inside their vehicles.
During her visit on Monday, Takaichi conducted an aerial survey via army helicopter and toured a well-equipped shelter featuring cardboard beds, partitions, and air conditioning. This visit drew criticism on social media, with some users suggesting that the facility she toured did not represent the reality faced by most survivors. Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura met with the Prime Minister to emphasize the danger of the recent “abnormal heat.” Kimura requested further government assistance to secure medical care and clean water for the evacuation centers. In response, Takaichi stated that the government would proactively examine how to best support the disaster-hit region and its people while considering the governor’s requests.
Separately, the tragedy at the collapsed Aeon mall in Kashima remains a point of focus. On Sunday, company executives from the store operator Habita attended the wake of 22-year-old victim Kurumi Otake to apologize to her parents. A company manager, Goji Yuse, acknowledged that staff had been instructed to secure sales proceeds in the safe if possible during the event. The mall operator believes a gas leak caused the collapse, which occurred after approximately 3,000 shoppers had been evacuated. Rescuers have since recovered five survivors and the bodies of seven others from the site.
