Japan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 34 Amid Extreme Heat

The death toll from Tuesday's magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Kumamoto prefecture has reached 34, with rescuers continuing to search for survivors among collapsed structures.

Approximately 9,000 displaced residents are currently housed in evacuation centres, where officials are struggling to manage heatstroke risks as temperatures are forecast to hit 39C.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the delivery of 300 air conditioning units to the region, where over 30,000 households remained without power as of Wednesday.