Japan earthquake death toll rises to 34 as aftershock hampers rescue efforts

The death toll from the magnitude-6.8 earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture earlier this week has risen to 34, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings across Kyushu.

An overnight magnitude-5.8 aftershock and temperatures of up to 35°C have complicated recovery efforts, with almost 5,000 members of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces deployed to support emergency operations.

Rescue teams remain focused on the heavily damaged Aeon shopping centre in Kashima and the Nippon Paper mill in Yatsushiro, where workers became trapped after a chimney collapsed.

Aeon said six of the 12 people found in the shopping centre had died after a gas explosion occurred following the evacuation of around 3,000 customers, while eight people had died at the paper mill.

Authorities said around 23,000 households remained without electricity and approximately 75,000 were without running water, with about 15,000 people staying in evacuation centres.

Military personnel have been delivering water, food, and cooling equipment as high temperatures continue across the affected region.

The earthquake is also continuing to affect industry and transport across Kyushu. Toyota has suspended operations at three plants while it assesses the impact on suppliers and logistics, and Honda has temporarily halted production at a motorcycle factory.