Prime minister visits quake-hit southern Japan as cleanup begins in intense heat

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that killed 38 people. The region is experiencing intense heat, with temperatures nearing 40°C (104°F), exacerbating challenges for over 8,500 people in crowded shelters and more than 46,000 households without water. Cleanup efforts are underway, with residents disposing of debris and temporary housing construction beginning. The prime minister's visit to a well-equipped shelter drew criticism. Separately, a company acknowledged instructing two employees to return to a collapsed mall to secure sales proceeds, leading to their deaths in a subsequent explosion. The earthquake also caused widespread damage, destroying about 700 homes and damaging over 11,300 buildings.

An elderly woman in her seventies has died from heatstroke while sheltering in a car in Kumamoto, Japan, following a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the region last week. This brings the total death toll from the earthquake to 36. The death occurred amid an extreme heat warning for the area, a concern that officials and experts had anticipated. Kumamoto authorities are now distributing leaflets to those sheltering in cars, advising them to seek cool locations, stay hydrated, and exercise to prevent blood clots. The woman was found dead on Thursday in a car that had run out of petrol.