The death toll from the severe earthquake in Japan has risen to 14, including a Vietnamese man, while more than 100 aftershocks have occurred amid concerns about the possibility of further strong earthquakes.
Japan Today reported on Thursday, 30 Jul 2026 GMT+7, that the latest death toll from the powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan's Kyushu Island, which struck last Tuesday, has increased to 14, with nearly 8,800 people evacuated to shelters.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on Wednesday that three people died in an explosion at the Aeon department store in Kashima city, believed to be caused by a gas leak after the earthquake. Aeon's president said customers evacuated safely, but three employees were found dead, one unresponsive, and three remain missing.
Meanwhile, five people died at a Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro city, Kumamoto Prefecture, after the factory's chimney collapsed. Four others are missing. Additionally, victims rescued from collapsed homes in the same city were later declared dead.
Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that a Vietnamese technical intern trainee died. He had come to work in Kumamoto under a technical internship program in January and died after a crane collapsed on the factory where he was working.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that about 4,600 Self-Defense Forces personnel have been deployed to assist rescue operations, along with several hundred police officers and emergency rescue teams from Tokyo conducting searches for the missing.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued heatstroke warnings for both victims and rescue workers due to temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius in the affected areas.
Regarding infrastructure and economic impacts, most Kyushu Shinkansen train services remain suspended, operating only on limited sections, while Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have canceled a total of 13 flights.
Following the earthquake, up to 48,000 households experienced power outages, which have since been reduced to about 34,000 as restoration continues. Transport companies like Sagawa Express and Japan Post have also suspended services in several Kyushu areas.
Factories of Honda and Tokyo Electron on Kyushu remain temporarily closed. Toyota Motor's Kyushu branch has announced temporary suspension of operations at three factories due to transportation issues.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that since Tuesday's earthquake, over 100 aftershocks have been recorded and has warned the public to remain alert for a possible magnitude 7 earthquake in the coming week, according to Japan's standards.
Kumamoto Prefecture previously experienced devastating earthquakes about 10 years ago, resulting in many deaths from two strong quakes occurring less than two days apart.
At that time, a magnitude 6.5 quake (equivalent to Japan's level 7) struck at 21:30 on 14 Apr 2016 GMT+7 in Mashiki town, followed by the main 7.3 magnitude quake around 01:30 on 16 Apr, 28 hours later, devastating Mashiki and Nishihara villages with a total of 278 deaths.
Subsequently, the government's Earthquake Research Committee classified the risk of a magnitude 7 earthquake within 30 years along the southern part of the Hinagu fault as "highest risk."
Officials from the Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed that Tuesday's earthquake epicenter was definitely offshore near that fault, but it is not yet confirmed whether the fault has reactivated with a major quake.
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Source:japantoday,nhk