Kumamoto: Temperatures reached 40.3 degrees Celsius in the city of Kumamoto on Monday, marking the first time on record that temperatures have surpassed 40 degrees in the namesake southwestern Japan prefecture. This extreme heat adds to the suffering of local residents who are grappling with the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that struck last Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the severe heatwave has also impacted other areas in the prefecture, with temperatures soaring to 40.2 degrees in the city of Kikuchi and 39.8 degrees in the town of Kosa. More than 8,500 people remain in evacuation shelters nearly a week after the earthquake, which registered a level 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, the highest level possible. In response, the prefectural government has initiated procedures to relocate evacuees to hotels and other lodging facilities.
All affected individuals are eligible for relocation to these secondary evacuation centers, as confirmed by the prefectural government. Leaflets detailing the relocation process were distributed at current evacuation centers starting on Monday, and the transfers are expected to commence as early as Tuesday. "We will make preparations so that evacuees can relocate as soon as possible," Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura assured reporters on Sunday.
In a bid to provide more permanent solutions, 50 makeshift housing units are set to be constructed in the city of Uki and 20 in the town of Hikawa, with availability projected for September or later. These areas experienced significant damage, with the earthquake measuring the maximum seismic intensity of 7.
As of Monday morning, the death toll from the earthquake has reached 38, including cases under investigation for potential links to the disaster. Among the deceased is a woman in her 70s, suspected to have succumbed to heatstroke, potentially marking her as the first indirect casualty linked to the earthquake.
The number of damaged houses has reached 4,622, and water supply disruptions are affecting 46,700 households. A total of 8,556 people are currently residing in 206 evacuation centers, with some evacuees opting to stay in their cars.
