Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34

Asia Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 July 31, 20261:40 AM ET By  The Associated Press Heavy machinery removes debris at AEON Mall, which was damaged by an explosion following an earthquake, in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, Friday, July 31, 2026. Kyodo News/via AP hide caption toggle caption Kyodo News/via AP KUMAMOTO, Japan — The death toll climbed to 34 from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan that set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney and flattened homes, the Kumamoto prefectural government said Friday. Asia Rescuers search for survivors after earthquake in Japan The magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Japan's southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday. As search operations entered a 4th day, it wasn't known how many people remained missing and the scale of the damage to homes across the region was still unclear. Officials said 34 deaths had been confirmed as related to the disaster, with one more death still under investigation. Dozens of people were injured. Thousands are without water and power as heat soars More than 79,000 homes were without water and more than 3,500 without electricity on Friday. Authorities said more than 9,000 people were staying in shelters, where power sources were being added to provide air conditioning. Electric poles are seen fallen over rail tracks in Hikawa, southern Japan, Thursday, July 30, 2026, two days after an earthquake hit the area. Hiro Komae/AP hide caption toggle caption Hiro Komae/AP In the days since the quake, concerns have grown about illness, including from the sweltering heat. Temperatures Friday were due to rise to 36 C (97 F) in Kumamoto city, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, after stifling 35 C (95 F) heat on Thursday. Sponsor Message Searches continue, with the number of missing unknown Searchers continued to work in the Kumamoto area on Friday, including at the site of the collapsed Aeon Mall shopping center in the town of Kashima, wher...