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Japan's earthquake death toll in Kumamoto prefecture has risen to 28 as rescue teams continue searching for survivors two days after the magnitude 7.1 quake. More than 10,000 people remain in evacuation centres, while damaged infrastructure, power outages, water shortages and intense heat continue to hamper relief efforts.

Tokyo, July 30, 2026: Hopes of finding more survivors were fading on Thursday as rescue teams continued searching through the rubble in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, two days after a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the southern main island of Kyushu.

The quake triggered an explosion at a shopping mall, toppled a factory chimney and destroyed homes, leaving at least 28 people dead and 63 injured, including five seriously, according to officials.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the death toll of 28 was based on a police tally that includes cases still under investigation. He added that some of those deaths could later be found to be unrelated to the earthquake.

The number of people still missing remained unclear as rescuers raced against time to locate survivors.