Rescue workers conduct a search operation at the damaged Aeon Mall after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, on July 30.REUTERS/YONHAP
The death toll linked to the powerful quake that hit Kumamoto rose to 28, Japanese chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said on Thursday.
The figure, however, differed from the latest tally released by Kumamoto Prefecture, which reported 17 deaths.
"The central government promptly reports the number of fatalities confirmed by police and fire authorities, while the prefectural government announces figures after compiling information submitted by local municipalities," Kihara said during a press conference held at 6:30 a.m. "That difference explains the discrepancy."
On Tuesday, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture at around 4:27 p.m., and aftershocks with seismic intensities ranging from 3 to 5 have continued through Thursday.
Kihara vowed that the government would make every effort to continue search-and-rescue operations.
“The rescue mission has become a race against time as 40 hours already have passed since the earthquake struck,” the chief cabinet secretary said.
Cars sit crushed beneath debris from a collapsed building after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Kumamoto prefecture, Japan, on July 29.REUTERS/YONHAP
Eight people died at the Nippon Paper Industries’ plant in Yatsushiro, while five were killed at Aeon Mall, where an explosion occurred, according to the prefecture.
Three additional deaths were confirmed in Yatsushiro and one in the town of Kosa. Six other people were reported to be unresponsive.
Kyodo News reported that the central government appears to have included information that had not yet been confirmed by local authorities, including two deaths in the city of Uki — where the maximum intensity of 7 on the Japan Meteorological Agency's seismic intensity scale was recorded.
As of Thursday morning, the water supply remained cut off to about 75,000 households in areas affected by the quake. Around 23,000 households also remained without electricity amid extreme heat. More than 10,000 people have taken shelter at evacuation centers.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
