Nearly a month after a powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, approximately 2,460 people remain in evacuation centers amid ongoing recovery challenges, including disruptions to water supply and infrastructure. The magnitude 7.1 quake, which occurred on July 28, resulted in 38 confirmed fatalities, with two additional deaths attributed to disaster-related causes such as heatstroke. Another 33 individuals remain seriously injured.
The number of evacuees has decreased significantly from the initial tally of 10,467 people sheltering in 415 centers on July 30 to those currently housed in 61 shelters across 11 municipalities. Local authorities continue efforts to identify residents sheltering independently in their homes or vehicles through door-to-door outreach.
The earthquake damaged or destroyed a total of 42,222 homes. Of these, 4,940 were either completely demolished or suffered severe damage, while 27,248 incurred some level of damage. The status of 10,034 houses remains under assessment. Construction of temporary housing is underway, with residents expected to begin moving in around September 5.
Despite progress in relief efforts, water supply remains a major obstacle, especially in the city of Yatsushiro where the highest seismic intensity of 7 on the Japanese shindo scale was recorded. Damage to wells that supply water to approximately 4,400 households has hindered recovery, and no full restoration timetable has been established. The prefectural government is collaborating with national authorities to address this issue, with hopes that water supply and other disrupted services will be restored by the end of the month.
Economic losses continue to mount. As of August 25, damage to businesses and industries has been estimated at roughly ¥155.9 billion ($978 million), while losses in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries total approximately ¥110.2 billion. Both figures are expected to increase as assessments continue. The tourism sector has also been impacted, with nearly 190,000 canceled accommodation bookings, representing around ¥2.7 billion in lost revenue.
Volunteer efforts have been substantial, with about 140,000 individuals participating in relief activities across affected municipalities as of August 25. To further support these efforts, shuttle buses for disaster-relief volunteers will begin operating from the city of Kumamoto to hard-hit areas including Uki, Yatsushiro, and Hikawa starting Saturday.
In response to the disaster, the national government announced a recovery support package on August 27 aimed at revitalizing the region’s economy, particularly its tourism industry. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged a commitment to rebuilding the livelihoods and businesses of those affected.
Key among the package’s measures is a travel discount program scheduled to launch on October 1. The initiative will offer discounts of up to 60% for trips to Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures, with 50% discounts available for Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, and Miyazaki prefectures. Discounts are capped at ¥20,000 for one-night stays and up to ¥30,000 for multi-night trips that include transportation, with a maximum of ¥35,000 for travel spanning multiple prefectures.
The government characterized Kumamoto as facing “quadruple suffering,” referencing the 2023 earthquake, a 2016 earthquake, and two recent flooding disasters. The recovery strategy marks a shift from “push-type” aid—delivering goods proactively—to “pull-type” assistance that better aligns with the specific needs of affected communities.