Tokyo, July 29: Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi reported on Wednesday that a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture has resulted in 13 fatalities. The quake, which struck on Tuesday, has caused injuries, building collapses, fires, and damage to roads in several areas.
According to Japan’s Kyodo News agency, the earthquake hit Kumamoto at 4:27 PM local time, with a depth of 10 kilometers underground.
Prime Minister Takaiichi expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and stated that the government is swiftly assessing the damage. All relevant ministries and government agencies are engaged in initial relief and rescue efforts.
The government is making every effort to restore essential services such as electricity and water as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces are working to deliver water and transport patients to safe locations.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Takaiichi convened a second emergency disaster management meeting regarding the Kumamoto earthquake. The meeting included Kumamoto Governor Kimura and Deputy Minister Tsushima from the Cabinet Office, who participated online.
She noted on social media, “The number of Self-Defense Force personnel involved in rescue and relief operations has been increased to approximately 4,600. Additionally, around 2,000 police officers and 1,400 firefighters are continuously engaged in relief efforts.”
She added, “The rescue and relief work is a race against time. Many individuals remain trapped at locations such as ‘ION Mall Kumamoto’ and ‘Nippon Paper Yatsushiro Mill,’ awaiting rescue. I have instructed all teams to bolster their personnel and resources to save as many lives as possible.”
The Prime Minister reported that nearly 450 relief camps have been established, accommodating about 7,700 people. The government is working to provide essential supplies such as food, water, bedding, hygiene products, toilet paper, air conditioning, and electricity at these camps.
She emphasized, “I have reiterated to officials the importance of understanding the needs of affected individuals and local administrations to ensure better arrangements at relief camps. Given the heat, measures to prevent heatstroke must be fully implemented. Additionally, many people are living in their vehicles, so I have instructed the provision of sufficient petrol and increased regular monitoring by healthcare professionals to prevent health issues like ‘economy class syndrome’ that can arise from prolonged sitting in cars.”
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