The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan has risen to 34, officials in Kumamoto Prefecture confirmed Thursday.
Rescue teams continue to search for survivors after the magnitude 6.8 temblor hit Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu on Tuesday, leaving widespread destruction to homes and power infrastructure.
Several fatalities occurred when a section of a shopping complex collapsed, followed by an explosion that tore through the mall roughly an hour later.
Thousands of displaced residents are now sheltering in evacuation centers, where the immediate challenge is keeping them cool and hydrated amid a severe heatwave.
Forecasts predict temperatures could reach 39°C (102°F) in the coming days, prompting officials to urge both survivors and rescuers to take precautions against heatstroke.
On Wednesday, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the dispatch of 300 air conditioners to Kumamoto, with 150 units designated for evacuation centers.
Approximately 9,000 people are currently housed in evacuation facilities, while more than 30,000 households remained without electricity as of Wednesday.
Yukiya Sanoue, a worker at one center hosting about 1,000 people, told the BBC that heatstroke is the primary concern. Roughly 30% of the evacuees at his facility are senior citizens.
He said the center had been without electricity, water, or air conditioning since the quake until a generator arrived Wednesday afternoon.
Several evacuees have already been hospitalized with symptoms consistent with heatstroke, Sanoue added.
More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake, driving many residents to sleep in their vehicles for fear of further tremors.
