The death toll from the worst-scale earthquake that struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture continues to rise. On the third day since the quake, additional victims were recovered from the rubble of collapsed buildings, pushing the total number of deaths past 30. In sweltering heat topping 95 degrees Fahrenheit, compounded by water and power outages, nearly 10,000 evacuees sheltering in evacuation centers are suffering severe hardship. As the so-called "golden time" of 72 hours—when survival odds drop sharply—approaches, Japanese authorities are throwing all available personnel into final rescue efforts.
According to a compilation of major outlets including Jiji Press on the 30th, the Kumamoto Prefecture disaster countermeasures headquarters officially said that as of 7 p.m. the death toll from the earthquake totaled 34. Including five in serious condition, total casualties reached 120. By area, 11 people died in Yatsushiro, and seven in Kashima, concentrating fatalities in major cities near the epicenter. In particular, seven died at Aeon Mall Kumamoto, a large commercial facility in Kashima, and eight were found dead at the collapsed Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro.
At the Aeon Mall, it is strongly suspected that liquefied petroleum gas leaked from damaged air-conditioning systems or restaurant piping due to the quake's impact, leading to a massive explosion. An employee who escaped the building moments before the blast said in an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun, "After evacuating customers, I went back in about 30 minutes later to retrieve personal belongings, and a rotten-like smell was overwhelming," describing the tense scene.
The Japanese government is also focusing on a swift resolution. Firefighters deployed to the disaster site are conducting detailed searches of collapsed residential areas with search and rescue dogs in the lead. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Gihara, regarding the response, said, "Rescuing lives has become a race against time," urging on the crews. To aid evacuees spending the night in vehicles due to collapse risks, the government urgently asked the refining industry to dispatch tank trucks to secure fuel. Japan has deployed the Self-Defense Forces to help 9,196 evacuees staying at 390 shelters.
The suffering of local residents is expected to persist for the time being. Tap water service has been cut to 79,700 households across a wide area including Kumamoto, and 7,500 households still lack electricity. Kyushu Electric Power expected power restoration only by the evening of the 31st. To make matters worse, with a heat wave sending temperatures past 95 degrees day after day, concerns are growing about secondary damage. With Self-Defense Forces support, Kumamoto Prefecture is urgently installing temporary air conditioners at evacuation centers and welfare facilities in a desperate push to prevent heat-related harm.
The powerful quake struck at about 4:27 p.m. on the 28th. In areas including Uki and Hikawa, a seismic intensity of 7—the highest level of shaking on the Japan Meteorological Agency scale—was observed. That is a catastrophic level at which buildings can collapse and landslides can occur.