Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has toured Kumamoto prefecture, where recovery from a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that killed 38 people is being slowed by soaring heat and a lack of water supplies.
Key facts
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck south-western Japan's Kumamoto prefecture.
- The quake killed 38 people, according to officials.
- One victim died of apparent heatstroke while sheltering in a car in hot weather.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the affected area almost a week after the quake.
- Recovery efforts are being hampered by heat and a lack of water supplies.
Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has visited the south-western prefecture of Kumamoto, where recovery efforts are being hampered by heat and a lack of water supplies, almost a week after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake killed dozens and caused widespread damage, according to the Guardian.
The quake killed 38 people and caused widespread damage across the region. Takaichi’s visit came almost a week after the disaster struck the prefecture.
Among those who died was one person who succumbed to apparent heatstroke while taking shelter in a car in hot weather, officials said on Monday, according to the Guardian.
The combination of high temperatures and disrupted water supplies has complicated the response, adding to the challenges facing survivors and emergency workers in the affected area.
The prime minister’s tour of the quake-hit sites underscored the scale of the recovery task, as the region contends with both the physical damage from the earthquake and the strain imposed by soaring temperatures.
Why it matters
The disaster highlights how extreme heat can compound the dangers of a natural disaster, turning shelter conditions themselves into a threat to life. A leader's visit to a stricken region often signals the level of national resources that will be directed toward relief and rebuilding.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Kumamoto earthquake?
According to the Guardian, 38 people died in the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto prefecture.
How is the weather affecting recovery efforts?
Recovery efforts are being hampered by heat and a lack of water supplies, and one person died of apparent heatstroke while sheltering in a car in hot weather, officials said.
Who visited the affected area?
Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, visited Kumamoto prefecture almost a week after the earthquake.