TOKYO – Rescue teams in southwestern Japan continued searching for survivors on Thursday as hopes of finding more people alive diminished, after a powerful earthquake killed at least 25 people and left thousands without electricity and water amid intense summer heat.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction across communities in Yatsushiro, Kashima and nearby areas. Emergency crews have been working around the clock at collapsed buildings, including a shopping mall and a paper mill, where several victims were trapped. Authorities said the full extent of the casualties remains under investigation.
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported at least 25 fatalities and 86 injuries, including several people in critical condition. Thousands of residents have been forced into evacuation centers after the quake damaged homes, roads and essential infrastructure.
More than 9,000 evacuees remain in temporary shelters, while many others are sleeping in tents or inside their vehicles because of persistent aftershocks and fears that weakened buildings could collapse. Temperatures nearing 35 degrees Celsius have added to the hardship, prompting authorities to warn of heatstroke and install air conditioning units in evacuation facilities.
Approximately 58,000 households remained without water or electricity two days after the earthquake, forcing residents to rely on emergency water deliveries and temporary sanitation facilities. Members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces have deployed water tankers, food, and other emergency supplies as restoration efforts continue.
The earthquake also disrupted industrial operations in one of Japan’s major manufacturing hubs. Production was temporarily suspended at facilities operated by companies including Toyota, Sony and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), raising concerns about possible impacts on automotive and semiconductor supply chains.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government is coordinating rescue, relief and recovery operations while prioritizing the restoration of electricity, water and transportation services in the affected areas.
The earthquake initially prompted a tsunami advisory for coastal areas facing the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, but the warning was later lifted after no significant tsunami was observed. Authorities continue to monitor aftershocks and have urged residents to remain vigilant.
Japan is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where several tectonic plates converge. Kumamoto Prefecture was also devastated by a series of powerful earthquakes in 2016 that claimed hundreds of lives and caused extensive damage, making the latest disaster another major test of the country’s disaster preparedness and recovery capabilities.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
