The death toll from the recent 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Japan has reached 34, with rescue operations hampered by an ongoing heatwave affecting the Kumamoto region.
The disaster has caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, including the 400-year-old Kumamoto Castle and major automotive and chip manufacturing plants, disrupting global supply chains.
Authorities are continuing search efforts at a collapsed mall, while the government has mobilized emergency resources to provide relief to thousands of displaced residents.