This is an OCHA Flash Update on the Kumamoto earthquake in Japan.
A series of earthquakes and aftershocks has hit Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island in southern Japan since 14 April, including a 6.5 magnitude tremor at 9:26 p.m. local time (GMT+9) on 14 April and a 7.3 magnitude that hit at 1:25 a.m. on 16 April. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami advisory in the wake of the 16 April earthquake, but lifted it after 50 minutes. Aftershocks continue to be felt in Kumamoto and neighbouring Prefectures in Kyushu.
As of 4:00 p.m. local time on 16 April, Kumamoto prefectural authorities and the police confirmed a total of 29 people deaths due to the earthquakes. Some 2,000 people have been treated by local hospitals and an estimated 69,000 are in 655 temporary evacuation centres such as schools.
Among other cases reported by the Government of Japan are people being trapped in collapsed structures, and a major landslide in Minamiaso-mura, a village in Aso District (Kumamoto), that isolated about 1,000 people. Rescue efforts are underway.
Some 129,100 households are without electricity in Kumamoto, Oita and Miyazaki prefectures, gas supply has been stopped for 105,000 households in Kumamoto and water supply for 385,000 people in Kumamoto and Oita according to local energy and water suppliers.
Kumamoto Airport has been closed due to damage. Train services, including the Shinkansen bullet train, have also been disrupted and some highways closed in the affected areas.
However, the Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that there was no damage to nuclear power plants in the affected area.
Local authorities continue search and rescue operations and are providing relief items such as food, tarpaulins, blankets, water and sanitation services and non-food items (NFIs). Hospitals are treating the injured.
An additional 20,000 personnel from the police, fire department, coast guard, medical teams and the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) have been mobilized to support rescue and relief operations. A particular urgency to these efforts is due to the low pressure system approaching the island of Kyushu.
JMA’s forecast indicates that heavy rains and strong winds will be felt in the affected area from the evening of 16 April until the morning of 17 April, increasing the risk of additional landslides. As a precaution, an evacuation advisory has been issued for 970 households in Aso city. The Government of Japan has not requested international assistance in responding to the situation in the earthquake affected areas. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to monitor the situation and remains in close contact Government counterparts through its office in Kobe.
A second Flash Update will be issued should the evolving situation require.
To access the Kumamoto earthquake location map, please follow this link.
For more information, contact:
Masaki Watabe, Head, OCHA Kobe, watabem@un.org, Mobile: +81-90-6018-9100
Kristen Knutson, Head, Regional Partnerships Unit, OCHA Regional Office for Asia-Pacific, knutson@un.org, Mobile: +66 8198 46896