Death Toll from Kumamoto Quake Rises to 38

Kumamoto, Aug. 2 (Jiji Press)–The death toll from Tuesday’s powerful earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, has risen to 38 as two more deaths have been confirmed, the prefectural disaster response headquarters said Sunday. A woman in her 70s died while sleeping in a car, apparently from heatstroke. Her death was judged potentially to be disaster-related, with the physical and mental strain of life as an evacuee among the possible causes. Whether her death is officially recognized as disaster-related will be determined by a municipal examination board, but it is the first possible disaster-related death linked to the earthquake. The death toll includes other cases that may be linked to the disaster. As of Sunday morning, the number of damaged homes stood at 3,851. Water supply remained disrupted for 46,800 households. Amid the summer heat, 9,226 people were staying at 210 evacuation centers. But the number of people taking shelter in cars remains unknown. According to the prefectural disaster response headquarters, the woman was confirmed dead after she was found staying in the car on Thursday. The car’s air conditioner was not working because the vehicle had run out of gas. In disaster-stricken areas in the prefecture, extreme heat with a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius or higher continued after the earthquake, with authorities calling for caution against heatstroke. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]