Japan

Japan Earthquake Updates: Kumamoto is Showing Early Signs of Recovery

By Desk Writer

Posted on August 1, 2026

4 min read

Although the humanitarian crisis is ongoing, Kumamoto is beginning to recover from its devastating earthquake of 7.1 magnitude. The death toll has been raised to 36 and the rescue team continues with search efforts inside stricken buildings to find any survivors. There may be more casualties as the assessments are carried out, authorities say.

Police, firefighters, members of Japan Self-Defense Forces and sniffer dogs have started their last search at the ripped-up Aeon Mall and other major sites damaged by the earthquake and tsunami. The power of the tremor has continued to be feared, with the Japan Meteorological Agency already having reported more than 200 aftershocks.

Slowly now, the primary means of recovery are making a comeback, with portions of the Kyushu Shinkansen now in use, flights at Kumamoto airport restored and some of the highways reopened after a safety check. But transport connections in southern Kumamoto are still partially paralyzed and private and public facilities aren’t likely to return to normal for weeks, authorities warn.

These positive developments in the emergency response have not ended the situation, however, it continues to be an extensive emergency response. There are currently 229 evacuation shelters and approximately 9,228 people in them and almost 72,000 households are now without running water and about 6,000 are without electricity. With hot weather now in Summer, the threat of heat illnesses for both evacuees and rescue personnel remains high.

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There is also a survey taking place of widespread structural damage, where over 1,500 homes have been reported as destroyed or damaged. The earthquake’s impact has been profound, affecting both cultural and economic development, with historic sites like Kumamoto Castle having suffered heavily.