Japan Earthquake Recovery Begins as Prime Minister Visits Quake-Hit Region

TOKYO — Residents in Japan’s quake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture began clearing debris Monday as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited the region for the first time since a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck last Tuesday, killing 38 people.

The death toll includes one person who died of apparent heat stroke while sheltering in a car, as the region endures scorching temperatures expected to reach close to 40°C. More than 46,000 households remain without water, and many face fuel shortages. Over 8,500 people are staying in crowded emergency shelters, many lacking air-conditioning.

Takaichi visited one of the area’s best-equipped shelters, featuring cardboard beds, partitions, and air conditioning, drawing criticism on social media that her visit did not reflect the reality of most shelters.

In a separate development, a company acknowledged it had instructed two employees to return to a collapsed shopping mall to retrieve sales proceeds before an explosion killed them. The company’s sales manager apologized to the family of one victim, saying, “I wish someone had stopped her.”

The earthquake has injured 114 people across Kumamoto. Approximately 700 homes were destroyed and more than 11,300 buildings damaged, according to prefectural officials. Construction of temporary housing has begun in the towns of Uki and Hikawa, while recovery efforts continue.

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