The Prime Minister of Japan confirmed that the earthquake death toll has reached 13, while authorities have ordered a partial suspension of Kyushu Shinkansen train services to inspect the safety of tracks and infrastructure.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed that the death toll from multiple earthquakes in Kumamoto Prefecture has now risen to 13. This figure includes deaths believed to be linked to the earthquake's impact, including three fatalities caused by a department store explosion. Officials continue to urgently search for missing persons and assess damage in the disaster areas.
Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) announced the suspension of all Kyushu Shinkansen high-speed train services starting from the first run on Wednesday to conduct inspections of the railway tracks and infrastructure following the strong earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture. Safety inspections will begin Wednesday morning, and if confirmed safe, services between Hakata Station and Kumamoto Station will resume in both directions.
However, the route between Kumamoto Station and Kagoshima-Chuo Station will remain closed all day to allow officials to conduct detailed inspections of track damage and facilities.
This suspension is the latest impact of the major earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, which caused damage across many areas. Officials continue to assess the situation and inspect transportation infrastructure to ensure public safety.
.source:NHK
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