The cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved the allocation of 24.2 billion yen (~$153 million USD) from the fiscal 2026 general reserve for recovery and relief efforts in the Kumamoto prefecture in Kyushu Island, which recently faced a deadly earthquake. Those funds will be used for restoring highway bridges, delivering relief goods and constructing temporary housing. Takaichi herself has announced that the government has designated the earthquake as a “disaster of extreme severity”,
Japan Earthquake Update: What Happened in Kumamoto?
On July 28, 2026 a powerful earthquake of 7.1 magnitude struck the Kumamoto prefecture in Southwestern Japan’s Kyushu Island. The earthquake happened at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres and caused immense destruction including a gas explosion at the Aeon mall, an industrial chimney collapse and soaring temperatures that reached close to 40 °Celsius. It also caused power outages and shinkansen (bullet train) disruptions.
Previous estimates suggested 36 casualties while authorities tried to determine whether other 2 deaths were due to the earthquake or not. But a few days the official death toll has jumped to 38, according to the updated figures released recently.
Japan Earthquake Update: Cause of Earthquake
The earthquake in Kumamoto, Kyushu Island was caused by a sudden, shallow slip along an active fault line within the Futagawa-Hinagu fault zone. Japan faces multiple earthquakes every year due to its sensitive location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Japan Earthquake Update: Epicenter of Earthquake
The epicenter of the Kumamoto earthquake was located in the coastal city of Uki,. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the country’s main weather agency, 32.6° N, 130.6° E, were the exact co-ordinates of the epicenter in Uki city.
Japan Earthquake Update: List of Affected Areas
The Kumamoto earthquake in Japan affected the following areas:
- Uki city (Level 7 – severe)
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Yatsushiro city (Level 7 – severe)
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Kashima town (Level 7 – severe)
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Kumamoto City (Level 6 – widespread but not severe)
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Kikuyo town (Level 6 – widespread but not severe)
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Mashiki town (Level 6 – widespread but not severe)
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Mifune town (Level 6 – widespread but not severe)
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Uto City (Level 6 – widespread but not severe)
Japan Earthquake Update: How Long Will Evacuation Orders Last?
Due to the sheer scale of the earthquake, the Kumamoto prefecture has suffered from heavy damage. . More than 46,700 households remain entirely without running water, while power outages have also been reproteed.
Close to 12,000 buildings have suffered from some sort of structural damage. And Kyushu Island is also going through an intense heatwave, with temperatures nearing 40°Celsius. The evacuation orders will likely remain in place for at least a few weeks.
