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The number of people who have died after a powerful earthquake hit southwestern Japan has risen to 34, authorities in Kumamoto prefecture<\/b> <\/b>said on Thursday. <\/b><\/p>\n
Rescuers are still working to find survivors after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island on Tuesday, causing widespread damage to houses and power lines. <\/p>\n
Several people died after part of a shopping centre collapsed and an explosion ripped through the mall about an hour later.<\/p>\n
Thousands of displaced residents are now staying in evacuation centres – though the challenge is to keep them cool and hydrated as the region battles sweltering heat.<\/p>\n
Temperatures could reach 39C in the prefecture in the coming days, according to forecasts, with officials urging survivors and rescuers to take precautions against heatstroke.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Japan’s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the delivery of 300 air conditioners to Kumamoto, with 150 of the units bound for evacuation centres.<\/p>\n
Around 9,000 displaced residents have been put up in evacuation centres, and more than 30,000 households were out of power as of Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Yukiya Sanoue, who works at one of the centres, told the BBC that heat stroke was the biggest concern at his facility, which hosts about 1,000 people. About 30% of the people at his evacuation centre are senior citizens. <\/p>\n
He said their electricity and water supplies had stopped since the earthquake, and the centre had been without air conditioning until Wednesday afternoon when they received a generator. <\/p>\n
Quite a few people are suffering from conditions similar to heatstroke, and several have been taken to hospital, he said.<\/p>\n
More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake, and many have taken to sleeping in their cars for fear of further tremors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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