The devastating earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan has been ongoing for two days, and the impact of the disaster continues to escalate. The death toll has risen to 34 people.
Following the explosion incident at Aeon Mall, it was confirmed that 7 employees lost their lives. Additionally, there were 8 confirmed fatalities at the Yatsushiro paper mill in the region. The affected areas are currently facing severe water and power outages, posing great challenges to daily life and rescue operations. Nearby Fukuoka Prefecture has urgently dispatched personnel and medical teams to the scene, putting all efforts into the rescue mission.
At 4:00 pm on the 30th of July, Kumamoto Prefecture announced that the death toll had reached 34 people, including those being investigated to determine if their deaths were disaster-related.
Aeon Group announced on the 30th that a total of 7 employees at the Aeon Mall where the explosion occurred had tragically perished. This included the 3 previously missing individuals, with the company now confirming the safety status of all employees.
According to information released by Aeon, the 3 missing individuals were all store employees, and rescue teams have found and confirmed their fatalities within the facility.
A video provided by a civilian named Kensaku on social media closely captured the moment of the explosion at “Kumamoto Aeon Mall,” showing a sudden blast on the second floor of the building, with the shockwave carrying debris and dust spreading instantly to the parking area. The footage captured two individuals hurriedly escaping from the building.
In addition to the casualties at the Aeon Mall, there were 8 confirmed deaths at the Yatsushiro paper mill in the Eight Daiichi City.
According to a report by Yomiuri Shimbun, on the day of the earthquake (28th), an employee responsible for equipment maintenance at the paper mill had completed his inspection duties and was resting in the office on the east side of the factory around 4 pm. Suddenly, accompanied by a roaring noise, a strong horizontal shake struck, throwing him and the chair he was sitting on into the air.
After the shaking subsided, he and other workers evacuated to the outdoors. The complex network of metal pipelines within the factory premises had already bent and deformed, and parts of the first floor of the plant had severely collapsed and twisted.
Upon reaching the factory square designated as an evacuation point, he was shocked to find that the familiar towering chimney had broken and disappeared. He expressed, “I cannot believe even the tall chimney could break. The thought of possibly being directly under the chimney at that moment sends shivers down my spine.”
Among the 8 confirmed fatalities were friends of the employee. He expressed, “I am deeply shocked and saddened, words fail to express the grief.”
Meanwhile, the continued water and power outages remain a significant issue affecting the lives of people in the disaster area. As of the morning of the 30th, there were more than 75,000 households without water and over 22,000 households without electricity in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Reported by Nishinippon Broadcasting, a man taking shelter in a refuge in Uki City expressed, “The lack of water is the most distressing. It is truly challenging to use limited water resources reasonably. As long as the water issue can be resolved, life can barely be sustained.”
Furthermore, on the 30th, a residential fire broke out in Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Firefighters faced significant challenges in extinguishing the fire and conducting rescue operations amid the ongoing water shortage.
During this period, neighboring Fukuoka Prefecture continues to advance various support and rescue operations. Currently, a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) consisting of approximately 200 members, including doctors and nurses, has been dispatched to Kumamoto Prefecture for rescue operations. Additionally, 11 staff members have been sent to investigate damage to sewer systems, among other conditions.
Authorities and relevant departments are tirelessly carrying out rescue and recovery efforts, aiming to restore the lives of affected residents to normalcy as soon as possible.