Japanese emergency workers intensified their efforts Thursday to rescue any remaining survivors from a devastated shopping mall, following a major earthquake that has resulted in a death toll of 28 and thousands of individuals sweltered in extreme heat conditions.
The government announced this updated figure as officials in Kumamoto reported the recovery of four bodies from the debris of the Aeon shopping mall, which suffered significant destruction due to a suspected gas explosion after Tuesday's quake. An official from the disaster management office in the southwestern region informed AFP, “We have rescued ten individuals from the mall. Of these, four have been confirmed deceased, one is without vital signs, and five others have sustained severe and minor injuries.”
The 7.1-magnitude tremor that struck on Tuesday caused extensive damage, flattening homes, damaging bridges, igniting fires, and leaving tens of thousands of residents without power or water. This weekend, temperatures are expected to reach as high as 38°C.
