One week after the Kumamoto earthquake, authorities intensified efforts to prevent heatstroke and disaster-related deaths as temperatures exceeded 40 C. Kumamoto City recorded 40.3 C on August 3, while 8,383 people remained in 162 shelters. As of 2 p.m., the confirmed death toll was 38, including one case still under investigation for a possible disaster link. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Hikawa and said the government would allocate more than 20 billion yen in reserve funds and designate the earthquake an extremely severe disaster. Air conditioners were installed at shelters after power returned, and evacuees were offered secondary accommodation in hotels and inns across Kumamoto and Fukuoka. Recovery remained difficult for factories, supply chains, roads, railways, and Yatsushiro Port, although outside assistance was reaching the area. Source: Nikkei / Prime Minister’s Office
Photo: Prime Minister’s Office
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