The death toll from a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck southwestern Japan on July 28 has risen to 28, with five others in critical condition, reports infohub.kz.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced the updated figure at a press conference. 'As of 6:30 a.m. today, according to police reports, the number of fatalities, including those whose deaths are being investigated for possible links to the earthquake, stands at 28,' he said. The tally includes both direct deaths and those potentially caused by indirect effects.
'To determine whether these deaths are earthquake-related, we need to analyze the causes of death. The 28 fatalities include those still under investigation,' Kihara noted. Indirect causes may include sudden health deterioration, exacerbation of chronic illnesses, or 'economy class syndrome' from prolonged stays in vehicles without proper medical care.
Additionally, five people remain in critical condition with injuries. Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had reported 13 deaths from the earthquake that struck the Kumamoto region on Kyushu Island the previous day.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, triggering tsunami warnings in some areas. Footage of the disaster emerged online, with the quake described as the strongest in a decade. Following a series of intense aftershocks, an explosion occurred at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping center in the prefecture.