The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture last week has risen to 38, with thousands of residents still staying in evacuation shelters as authorities assess the damage.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto on Tuesday. Authorities have confirmed 36 deaths, while two additional deaths are still being investigated to determine whether they were caused by the earthquake.
More than 9,200 people remain in 210 evacuation shelters across the prefecture, while more than 3,400 homes have been damaged.
The earthquake has also disrupted water supplies, with tap water unavailable at more than 69,000 households and businesses in Kumamoto.
Medical services are facing additional pressure as temperatures rise across the prefecture. About 30 people with suspected heatstroke symptoms were taken to hospitals on Saturday, with temperatures exceeding 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas.
Authorities warned that the full scale of the destruction is not yet known and that the number of damaged buildings could increase significantly as inspections continue.
Search and rescue operations ended Saturday at an Aeon shopping mall where seven workers were killed and five others injured in an explosion shortly after the earthquake struck.
The disaster has left communities dealing with damaged homes, disrupted infrastructure and extreme summer heat while emergency shelters remain crowded.
Japan is among the world’s most earthquake-prone countries because it sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The country experiences about 20% of the world’s earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or higher.
Authorities continue to assess the damage and provide assistance to residents affected by the earthquake.