More than 2,000 people were still in evacuation centers on Friday, exactly one month after the powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, amid concerns that extreme heat could lead to disaster-related deaths. Authorities are rushing to help residents rebuild their lives.
According to local officials, many residents have been unable to leave shelters due to severe damage to their homes or fears of ongoing aftershocks. Living conditions in evacuation centers remain difficult, particularly as daytime temperatures soar, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion, especially for the elderly and young children.
The Kumamoto prefectural government has stepped up distribution of essential supplies, set up water and fan distribution points, and accelerated the construction of temporary housing to provide more stable accommodations. Relief teams have also been deployed to check on health conditions and offer psychological support to those staying in shelters.
The main quake, with a magnitude of 7.3, struck Kumamoto on April 16, following a strong foreshock two days earlier, killing at least 49 people and destroying or damaging thousands of homes. Aftershocks continued for weeks, complicating recovery efforts.
Local authorities said they are working to speed up the construction of temporary housing, expected to be completed within the coming months, while urging residents to move to safer locations as soon as possible to ease the burden on evacuation centers.
