Thirty-four people have died and the total number of casualties has reached 120 following the powerful earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture, according to the prefectural disaster response headquarters. Local authorities determined that 25 of the deaths were directly caused by the earthquake, while five people were seriously injured.
Rescue teams are continuing operations at two major sites affected by the earthquake. Eight people were confirmed dead after a chimney collapsed at Nippon Paper Industries’ Yatsushiro mill, where 11 people were trapped. Ten were brought out of the site, while efforts continued to reach the remaining person. At Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima, seven people were confirmed dead following an explosion, while 12 others were rescued. Search operations remained underway at the mall.
熊本県災害対策本部によると、熊本県を襲った強い地震により34人が死亡し、人的被害は計120人に上っている。このうち25人は、市町村により地震が直接の原因と認定され、重傷者は5人となっている。
地震の被害を受けた2か所では、救助活動が続いている。八代市の日本製紙八代工場では、煙突が崩落して11人が閉じ込められ、8人の死亡が確認された。10人が救助され、残る1人の救助活動が続いている。嘉島町のイオンモール熊本では、爆発により7人の死亡が確認され、12人が救助された。現場では引き続き捜索活動が行われている。