On the 28th, as Kyushu's Kumamoto area suffered massive damage from a strong earthquake, Japan's disaster authorities effectively wrapped up large-scale search operations. Rescue work at a large shopping mall, where an explosion killed 7 people, has also ended. But with the prolonged heat wave and water outages worsening conditions at evacuation centers, measures to prevent secondary damage are urgently needed.
According to a compilation of reports on the 2nd from major Japanese outlets including NHK and the Yomiuri Shimbun, and an announcement by the Kumamoto Prefecture disaster response headquarters, rescue and search operations at "Aeon Mall Kumamoto" ended at noon the previous day. At this shopping mall, an explosion that occurred right after the strong quake killed 7 people and injured 5. Police said that after multiple checks of the site, they determined there was no one left inside the building and that no additional reports of missing or unaccounted-for persons had been received, so they decided to end the search.
Searches at other major damage sites have also been completed, putting large-scale search operations related to this earthquake in the final stage. The death toll from this quake currently stands at 36.
Among the dead, the heartbreaking story of a 22-year-old woman who worked at a variety goods shop inside Aeon Mall also became known. The bereaved family told NHK, "Our daughter evacuated outside the store right after the quake, then reentered the building after the company instructed her to put the day's takings in the safe." The family said an explosion occurred five minutes after she returned to the shop, and she was found dead with a coworker early the next morning.
As of the afternoon of the 1st, 3,649 dwellings were reported damaged. A total of 9,045 evacuees are staying at 218 evacuation centers in Kumamoto Prefecture. Among them, more than 80 were taken to hospitals with suspected heatstroke as the heat wave has gripped the Kumamoto area day after day. Kumamoto Prefecture decided to urgently strengthen heatstroke countermeasures at evacuation centers, including encouraging hydration, improving restroom sanitation, and expanding air-conditioning and other HVAC facilities.
Water outages are also worsening the damage. Because of the quake, tap water supply was cut off to 69,400 households in Kumamoto Prefecture. Even in some areas where tap water is available, muddy water is reportedly coming out due to issues with purification facilities and piping. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed relevant ministers at a disaster response headquarters meeting on the 1st to "work to restore water and sewer infrastructure as quickly as possible." Takaichi plans to visit Kumamoto Prefecture on the 3rd to inspect the damage sites and meet with local government leaders.
The quake's aftermath has begun to visibly hit Japanese industry as auto parts factories across Kumamoto Prefecture have one after another halted operations. Honda has stopped operations at its Kumamoto plant, which produces 320,000 motorcycles a year, and is expected to resume only after the 17th. Aisin, a Toyota Motor parts affiliate, has also shut plants and is conducting restoration work. Mitsubishi Motors likewise suspended production of some models at its Okayama Prefecture plant due to parts supply disruptions, suggesting the quake's impact in Kyushu is spreading to Honshu.