The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture has risen to 13, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on July 29, describing the disaster as severe.
Speaking to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office, Takaichi said the magnitude-7.1 earthquake had caused extensive damage across the prefecture.
The powerful quake struck Kumamoto Prefecture at 4:27 p.m. local time on July 28. According to Japanese authorities, the shallow earthquake, which had a focal depth of 10 km, also prompted a tsunami warning.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warned on July 29 that residents in the Kumamoto region should remain on high alert over the coming days, particularly during the first two to three days after the main shock, when another earthquake of up to seismic intensity 7 could occur.
The agency noted that during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, seismic intensity 7 was recorded twice within two days. It said the epicentre of the latest quake was located near the Hinagu Fault Zone, about 20 km from the epicentre of the 2016 main shock.
As of the evening of July 28, a total of 61 aftershocks of seismic intensity 1 or above had been recorded, including three measuring seismic intensity 5 and seven measuring seismic intensity 4.
An official from the JMA said the region has experienced successive major earthquakes in the past and urged the public to prepare for a possible seismic intensity-7 earthquake over the next week, especially during the first two to three days following the initial quake.
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