On July 28, a woman in her 70s, who had been living in her car after the Kumamoto earthquake, died from suspected heatstroke. Her vehicle's air conditioning had stopped working due to a lack of fuel. Residents who evacuated their homes to escape the earthquake are now facing extreme heat exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit, along with water shortages and the risk of infectious diseases.
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on August 3 that the woman, a resident of Hikawamachi in Kumamoto Prefecture, was found in cardiac arrest in her car in a parking lot on the night of July 30. Her sister, worried after losing contact, discovered her collapsed inside the vehicle. If confirmed as a death related to the disaster, this would mark the first such case linked to the earthquake. The death toll from the earthquake has risen to 38, including two individuals whose deaths are under investigation for disaster-related causes.
The affected areas are experiencing a relentless heat wave, with temperatures in Kumamoto City reaching a record high of 102 degrees Fahrenheit on August 2. By 4 p.m. that day, 11 people had been hospitalized for suspected heat-related illnesses in regions that recorded tremors of magnitude 6 or higher, with 10 of them requiring admission or treatment.
Many evacuees are choosing to stay in their cars rather than crowded shelters, fearing they might disturb others. A 55-year-old man from Ukishi, who has a disability in his right leg, is unable to move without a wheelchair or crutches. His car, which suffered a flat tire after hitting a road bump, remains parked in the shelter's lot. He undergoes dialysis three times a week due to kidney failure and must manage his fluid intake, but he sometimes turns off the engine to conserve fuel. When the heat becomes unbearable, he walks 100 meters to the shelter to cool off and gather food and water before returning to his car. He told the Yomiuri, "I slept in my car during the Kumamoto earthquake ten years ago, but the heat this time is really tough."
Cleaning up collapsed homes is also a daunting task. According to the Asahi Shimbun, a 73-year-old resident of Hikawamachi began searching for his driver's license and valuables in his destroyed home at 8:30 a.m. but had to stop after an hour. "The temperature is simply unbearable for working during the day," he said. His wife, who was inside the house during the earthquake, expressed her despair about their future, saying, "I have no idea how we will live from now on." An 85-year-old resident of Yatsushiro City also lamented, "It's too hot to make any progress on cleaning up the scattered furniture."
As of 7 p.m. on August 2, 8,480 people were staying in 206 evacuation centers across Kumamoto Prefecture. However, some shelters are unable to accommodate all evacuees in air-conditioned areas. In one Ukishi shelter, a woman in her 70s was hospitalized for COVID-19 but was discharged after one day and moved to a welfare shelter with two family members. In this shelter, evacuees are sleeping on the floor without partitions, and there is only one area to isolate individuals showing symptoms like fever. A city official managing the shelter stated, "There are limits to infection prevention measures."
Water shortages continue, with 46,700 households in five municipalities still without water six days after the earthquake. The inability to wash hands or bodies increases the risk of heat-related illnesses and infections. Kumamoto Prefecture has urged residents in affected areas to maintain cleanliness using disinfectant sheets. As of 7 p.m. on August 2, the number of damaged homes was reported at 4,213.
The Japanese government and Kumamoto Prefecture are initiating a "hotel evacuation" plan to relocate evacuees to hotels and inns equipped with air conditioning and restrooms. Starting August 3, applications will be accepted online for all evacuees from Ukishi, Uto City, Yatsushiro City, and Hikawamachi. According to the Asahi Shimbun, the government is working to accommodate up to 2,200 people in 73 lodging facilities and is expanding its search for accommodations throughout Kyushu. The urgency in implementing hotel evacuations is driven by the recognition that the heat poses a serious threat to the lives of evacuees.
Meanwhile, on August 3, Kumamoto Prefecture began constructing 70 temporary homes in Ukishi and Hikawamachi, with occupancy expected to begin after September. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is also scheduled to visit the affected areas on August 3, marking her first visit since the earthquake. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that temperatures could reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the affected areas on August 3, urging residents to stay hydrated and take precautions against heatstroke.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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