A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan late Tuesday, leaving 34 people dead and six others seriously injured. The Kumamoto prefecture government reported the updated death toll on Friday, noting an increase from the previous count of 25.
The powerful quake caused widespread destruction, flattening homes, toppling a factory chimney, rupturing roads, and snarling supply chains. Nearly half of the fatalities occurred during two major incidents: a possible gas explosion at an Aeon shopping mall and major structural damage at a Nippon Paper Industries paper mill. Rescuers are continuing last-ditch efforts to find survivors in the Kumamoto area, focusing heavily on the site of the collapsed mall where some of the most serious damage was recorded.
Tens of thousands of residents remain without power and water, with over 79,000 homes currently lacking water services. Survivors spent Friday sleeping in cars or staying in crowded shelters as temperatures are forecast to approach 40°C this weekend.