Japan earthquake death toll reaches 28; rescue efforts continue

The death toll from a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck southeastern Japan has climbed to 28, the Japanese government announced Thursday. Officials noted that this figure includes individuals whose deaths are still under investigation to determine if they were directly caused by the seismic event.

Approximately 48 hours after the quake, hundreds of rescuers continue their efforts, hoping to find survivors, especially within the rubble of a shopping center in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture. The earthquake caused extensive damage across Kyushu Island, destroying houses, damaging bridges, and sparking fires. Thousands of households have been left without electricity and water.

A series of dozens of aftershocks have compounded the distress of residents already enduring sweltering heat, with temperatures expected to reach at least 35 degrees Celsius. The shopping center in Kashima was evacuated during the main tremor, but about 50 minutes later, a massive explosion occurred, causing significant damage to the building while an unknown number of workers remained inside.

Further complicating the situation, five deaths and four disappearances have been confirmed at the Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro city, where part of the facility collapsed. As of Wednesday afternoon, around 31,200 households and facilities were still without power, and approximately 84,000 properties lacked water, according to authorities. Images show people queuing for drinking water and fuel.

The US Geological Survey estimated the earthquake's magnitude at 6.8, considerably lower than Japan's measurement. Kumamoto Prefecture was also hit by two devastating earthquakes in 2016, which resulted in 273 deaths and over 2,800 injuries.