Sanae Takaichi Urges Coordination to Secure Water Supplies Following Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake in Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized the necessity of securing water supplies by doing "whatever it takes" as the nation faces the aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kyushu on Tuesday. The Kumamoto prefectural government reported that the death toll has risen to 34, with search operations entering their fourth day. The quake caused significant infrastructure damage, leaving nearly 80,000 homes without water and causing a mall explosion and a factory chimney collapse. Survivors are currently facing punishing summer temperatures, with some residents resorting to sleeping in cars due to fuel shortages and water cutoffs. While electricity was largely restored by Friday evening, many areas still lack consistent water access. Authorities are conducting ongoing search operations at major sites, including the collapsed Aeon Mall and a Nippon Paper Industries factory. The earthquake has also raised concerns regarding the disruption of semiconductor and auto-parts supply chains in the industrial hub of Kumamoto.