Kumamoto Earthquake Has Resulted in 30 Deaths; Power and Water Facilities Damaged

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed at the Emergency Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the 30th that, as of noon local time, the Kumamoto earthquake has caused 30 deaths.

Among the victims, 8 people died in the chimney collapse accident at Nippon Paper Industries Yatsushiro Plant, and 6 died in the explosion and collapse accident at the Kagoshima Town "AEON Mall".

Over 10,000 people are now accommodated in more than 400 temporary shelters throughout Kumamoto Prefecture. Around 75,000 households in various areas such as Uki City and Hikawa Town are without water.

According to Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Company, there are still about 23,000 households in Kumamoto Prefecture experiencing power outages. With the hot weather, the health conditions of the disaster victims are a cause for concern.

At the "AEON Mall" where the explosion occurred, rescue personnel have worked overnight using heavy machinery and other tools to search for the missing.

As for the Nippon Paper Industries Yatsushiro Plant, where the chimney broke, one person remains missing.

The Kumamoto Prefectural Government stated on the 30th that debris is scattered throughout the disaster site, making rescue operations difficult.

Following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the afternoon of the 28th, Kumamoto Prefecture experienced another 5.8 magnitude earthquake at around 10:19 p.m. local time on the 29th (9:19 p.m. Malaysian time).

The epicenter of this earthquake was in the Amakusa area of Kumamoto Prefecture, with an extremely shallow focal depth, but there is no tsunami threat. Of the many areas in the prefecture, Yatsushiro City, Kami-Amakusa City, and Amakusa City experienced the strongest tremors.