Editorial: Sustained support is essential 1 month after Kumamoto earthquake

More than two thousand individuals are still residing in shelters one month after a severe earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, raising alarm about potential disaster-related fatalities and prompting authorities to expedite efforts to assist survivors in rebuilding their lives, according to Kyodo. As of Thursday, approximately 2,460 people were staying in 61 evacuation centers, a significant decrease from the over ten thousand who were initially housed in such facilities.

The prefecture reports that nearly 42,222 homes have been damaged by the magnitude-7.1 quake that occurred last month. Authorities are working diligently to provide damage certificates to homeowners, a prerequisite for accessing public assistance, and to construct temporary housing solutions. Additionally, efforts are being made to restore transportation services.

Kyushu Railway Co. announced that it will resume full operation of the Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train services on September 18. The prefecture has officially recorded 38 deaths, including a woman in her seventies who passed away from suspected heatstroke after spending a night in her car. In the earthquakes that hit Kumamoto in 2016, disaster-related fatalities accounted for roughly 80 percent of the 275 total fatalities, with a majority occurring within three months following the seismic events.