Japan earthquake claims 38th victim as woman found dead in car
- A woman in her 70s died of suspected heatstroke in Kumamoto, Japan, after being found in her car, which had run out of petrol.
- Officials believe this is the first fatality linked to the aftermath of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake, which struck on 28 July, rather than the quake itself.
- The earthquake’s death toll has risen to 38, with many survivors sheltering in cars due to power and water cuts amidst extreme summer temperatures exceeding 35C.
- The severe heat compounds the danger for those displaced, particularly the elderly, who are vulnerable to heat illness and blood clots from prolonged sitting.
- The quake caused significant damage, including 9 deaths at a paper mill and 7 at a shopping mall, and registered the highest seismic intensity in parts of the prefecture.
More bulletins