Death toll from earthquake in southwestern Japan rises to 34, six more reported injured

The death toll from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday rose to 34 on Friday, up from 25, according to the Kumamoto prefecture government. Six more people were seriously injured. Nearly half of the deaths occurred at Nippon Paper Industries' paper mill and Aeon's shopping mall, where a possible gas explosion occurred. Around 260,000 people were given evacuation orders. The Japanese government issued emergency warnings for seven prefectures on Kyushu. Power outages and fires occurred, roads and bridges were damaged, and a goods train derailed. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to evacuate to safety.

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan earlier this week rose to 34 on Friday, up from 25 previously, according to a statement from the Kumamoto prefecture government. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.1, struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, causing buildings to collapse, roads to rupture, and supply chains to be snarled. Six more people have been seriously injured. Nearly half of those killed were caught up in two major incidents: Nippon Paper Industries' paper mill, which suffered major structural damage, and Aeon's shopping mall, where a possible gas explosion occurred. Around 260,000 people were given evacuation orders. The Japanese government issued emergency earthquake warnings for Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures, all on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Power to thousands of homes was knocked out, and roads were torn apart across the region. Public broadcaster NHK showed several buildings on fire or collapsed, large cracks along roads, including an elevated highway, and a derailed goods train. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, "Power outages and fires have occurred in some areas, and there has also been damage to roads and bridges and the collapse of buildings. Above all, I ask everyone to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to a safe location."