Extreme Heat Seen Crippling Kumamoto Quake Evacuees

Uki, Kumamoto Pref., Aug. 3 (Jiji Press)–Temperatures in Kumamoto Prefecture are forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius or higher for the first time on record Monday, adding to the plight of people in the southwestern Japan prefecture hit by a powerful earthquake last Tuesday. As more than 8,500 people are staying in evacuation shelters following the earthquake, which registered up to 7, the highest level on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, the prefectural government has started procedures for them to move to hotels and other lodging facilities in the cities of Uto, Uki and Yatsushiro and the town of Hikawa for secondary evacuation. According to the prefectural government, all affected people are eligible to relocate to such secondary evacuation facilities. Related leaflets were distributed at current evacuation centers Monday. Relocation is expected to start Tuesday at the earliest. “We will make preparations so that evacuees can relocate as soon as possible,” Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura told reporters Sunday. In addition, 50 makeshift housing units will be built in Uki and 20 in Hikawa. They will become available in September or later. Damage was especially heavy in the two municipalities, where the earthquake measured the maximum seismic intensity of 7. As of Monday morning, the death toll from the quake stood at 38, including cases under investigation for possible links with the disaster, according to the prefecture’s disaster response headquarters. Of the victims, a woman in her 70s, who is believed to have died of heatstroke, may be recognized as the first casualty related to the latest disaster. The number of damaged houses has reached 4,622 while water supply has been disrupted at 46,700 households. A total of 8,556 people are staying at 206 evacuation centers. Some evacuees are using their cars. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]