Highlights
Humanity Road activated its Disaster Response Team on 16 April 2016 local time in response to a 7.0 earthquake that occurred on Kyushu Island in the Kumamoto Prefecture of Japan. This quake followed a series of multiple quakes over the past several days, the largest of which was a 6.2 on the 14th. Following the 6.2 quake, there were reports of significant damage in the Kumamoto area and especially in the town of Mashiki. A tsunami advisory was issued by the Japanese Meteorological Agency but was suspended.
This second social media report includes information from 16 and 17 April.
Transportation has been disrupted. Kumamoto Airport remains closed due to a damaged terminal, and railways are expected to be closed on 17 April. Numerous expressways are closed because of earthquake damage or landslides.
As of 16 April, approximately 420,000 houses were without water. More than 20,000 personnel are being deployed to assist with search and rescue and relief by Monday. Rescue efforts continue for those trapped in collapsed buildings, and helicopter rescue activities continue. There are 680 evacuation centers open, and prolonged evacuation is expected.
Some hospitals have been damaged: Kumamoto Central Hospital has some flooding due to sprinklers activated by the earthquake (source), and Kumamoto City Hospital is at risk of collapse due to dilapidated state. Approximately 300 patients have been transferred to National Hospital Organisation Kumamoto Medical Centre. (source)