The death toll—comprising both those who died directly as a result of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on July 28, and those whose deaths were linked to the disaster for other reasons—stands at 28, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference on Thursday.
“As of 6:30 a.m. today (00:30 Moscow time), according to police reports, the death toll—including cases where the link between the death and the earthquake is still being investigated—has reached 28,” Kihara said.
He explained that deaths could have occurred either directly during the earthquake or due to causes indirectly related to it. Examples include “economy class syndrome” (deep vein thrombosis), acute health deterioration, or the worsening of chronic conditions while sleeping in cars without access to medical care.
“To determine whether or not these deaths are linked to the earthquake, the causes must be analyzed. The figure of 28 fatalities includes cases where the link between the cause of death and the earthquake is still under review,” Kihara said.
In addition, five people are in serious condition due to injuries sustained.
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Kumamoto Prefecture area on the island of Kyushu, southwestern Japan, on Tuesday. The earthquake’s hypocenter was located at a shallow depth of 16 kilometers.
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