Baku, July 31, AZERTAC
Officials in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto say the death toll after Tuesday's devastating earthquake has reached 35, the NHK World-Japan reported. They are still confirming, however, that all the deaths can directly be attributed to the quake. The search for survivors continues, and the death toll could rise further.
The tremor had a magnitude of 7.1 and an intensity of 7 on the Japanese scale, the highest. Hundreds of smaller quakes have occurred since.
In Hikawa Town, with a population of around 10,000, over 120 houses and other buildings were completely destroyed.
In Kashima Town, about 20 kilometers away, rescue operations at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping center continue. The mall was ripped apart by a huge explosion.
Twelve people have been pulled out. Seven have died and the rest are injured.
Retailer Aeon says the blast occurred on the mall's south side about 80 minutes after the quake. The second floor was severely damaged.
The company says the exact cause has not been determined. But it believes the most likely explanation is a gas explosion.
A worker at the mall says staff were allowed to go back into the building in groups to fetch keys to cars and homes. She said the blast happened about two minutes after she left the building. She heard a rumbling sound, and saw what appeared to be ash coming toward her.
Officials say 11 people were trapped after a smokestack at a Nippon Paper Industries plant in Yatsushiro City collapsed. All have been pulled out but nine have died.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says seismic activity is continuing across a wide area. It warns that strong shaking could occur, depending on the size and location of future tremors. Officials say there is still an increased risk of major jolts, especially in the coming days.