Japan’s prime minister tours quake-hit sites as recovery efforts hampered by soaring temperatures

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Kumamoto prefecture nearly a week after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake devastated the region. Her visit aimed to assess the ongoing recovery efforts, which are being significantly hampered by extreme heat and a critical lack of water supplies.

Officials reported that 38 people died in the quake. Tragically, one victim succumbed to apparent heatstroke while sheltering in a car during the sweltering weather, highlighting the dual threat posed by the natural disaster and the climate.

The scale of the damage remains extensive, with recovery operations struggling to gain momentum under the harsh conditions. The prime minister's visit underscores the government's attention to the crisis, as residents and rescue workers battle both the aftermath of the earthquake and the oppressive summer heat.

“

one person who died of apparent heatstroke while taking shelter in a car in hot weather