Japan Quake Death Toll Rises to 34 as Rescue Efforts Continue

The quake left more than 80 people injured, five of them seriously. The seismic event triggered an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney at the Nippon Paper Industries factory, and flattened numerous homes in the Kumamoto area on Kyushu island. Thousands of people remain in evacuation centers, with some homes still without water or electricity.

Survivors described returning home to find family members trapped in wreckage, with some suffering injuries and being rushed to the hospital. Despite strict building codes in Japan, many older homes proved fragile against the tremors. The most serious damage occurred at the Aeon Mall shopping center, where the second floor collapsed, trapping people.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that areas experiencing the strongest tremors remain at risk of further significant earthquakes and landslides for approximately a week.