Overview
- The earthquake that struck on July 28 produced a maximum seismic intensity of 7 and has resulted in a reported 38 deaths as of August 2, including two cases still under investigation.
- Kumamoto officials identified a woman in her 70s who evacuated in her car and died of suspected heatstroke on July 30 as the prefecture’s first possible disaster-related death.
- Authorities say at least 99 people were taken to hospital with suspected heat illness between July 28 and August 1, with most patients aged 65 or older and several in serious condition.
- Damage to health and care infrastructure is extensive: the Health Ministry counted 86 medical facilities with outages or other damage and local reports say more than 800 elderly-care sites were affected, causing transfers, overcrowding and staff shortages.
- The national government has ordered agencies to focus on preventing disaster-related deaths by boosting medical teams, stepping up checks on people sheltering in cars, moving evacuees to hotels, and starting construction of temporary housing, a response shaped by heavy post-quake indirect death tolls in 2016 and current heat risks.