On Thursday afternoon (July 30), the Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters of Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan reported that the death toll from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake has risen to 34 people, including cases that are still under investigation to determine if they are related to the earthquake disaster. Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takai reported 30 deaths. Currently, rescue operations are continuing in the midst of unclear situation of the disaster.
According to reports from Kyodo News, at the large commercial facility “Aeon Amusement Dream Town Kumamoto” in Kajishima-cho where explosions occurred, rescue workers have been using heavy machinery and tools around the clock to search for missing persons. There are still people trapped inside the collapsed chimney at the Omuta Factory of Nippon Paper Industries (in Yatsushiro City). In the disaster area where water and electricity supply are disrupted, weak shaking with a seismic intensity of 5 was observed again on Wednesday night (July 29), indicating ongoing frequent seismic activities. The health conditions of evacuees are also a cause for concern.
As of Wednesday night, water and electricity supply in many disaster areas have yet to be restored, prompting local governments and power companies to accelerate response efforts. Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) stated that detailed assessment of the disaster situation will require more time and it is currently uncertain when the Kumamoto-Kagoshima Central segment of the Kyushu Shinkansen line will resume service.
The earthquake occurred at around 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday (July 28), with Kumamoto City and Himizo Town in Uki City observing a seismic intensity of 7. This is the first time Japan has experienced a seismic intensity of 7 since the Noto Peninsula earthquake in 2024. The Japan Meteorological Agency has officially named this earthquake the “Kumamoto Earthquake of Reiwa 8” following the Reiwa era system.