Death toll from Japan earthquake rises to 34

KUMAMOTO: The death toll from a powerful earthquake that hit southwestern ​Japan earlier this week ​rose to 34 on Friday ⁠from 25 previously, the ​Kumamoto prefecture government said in ​a statement.

A further six people have been seriously injured by the ​earthquake that struck late ​on Tuesday, leading to buildings collapsing, roads ‌rupturing ⁠and supply chains getting snarled.

Japan’s earthquake leaves communities thirsting for water and relief from heat

Nearly half of those killed were caught up in ​two major ​incidents: ⁠Nippon Paper Industries’ paper mill, which suffered ​major structural damage, and ​Aeon’s shopping ⁠mall, where a possible gas explosion occurred.