Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan has climbed to at least 34, with rescue teams recovering victims from a partially collapsed shopping center and a paper factory.

Seven bodies were pulled from the Aeon shopping center in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, which suffered a severe explosion about 50 minutes after being evacuated post-earthquake. Eight people also died at a paper factory in Yatsushiro. Seven individuals remained in critical condition following the quake, which struck on Tuesday.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake, with the U.S. Geological Survey reporting 6.8, triggered landslides, collapsed buildings and bridges, and caused widespread power and water outages. As of Thursday, approximately 13,500 households were still without electricity. The region is also grappling with extreme heat, with temperatures expected to reach 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) over the weekend, exacerbating the plight of thousands sheltering in temporary accommodations.

Amidst the devastation, a small ray of hope emerged as 25 cats were rescued from a cat cafe within the damaged shopping complex, a detail that brought relief on social media. The Aeon center, recently renovated and reopened in June, housed a cinema, restaurants, and international boutiques. Business owner Fumihiko Matsuura, 56, expressed his relief at having narrowly escaped the danger, having watched a movie at the mall the previous week.