2 homes, different traumas: Japan quake leaves scars seen and unseen
Survivors of a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture are struggling with physical damage to their homes and the psychological trauma of recurring disasters. Many residents are living in temporary shelters or facing high repair costs while dealing with the sweltering summer heat.
Why it matters
The event underscores the ongoing vulnerability of Japanese infrastructure to seismic activity and the long-term mental health impact on disaster survivors.
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BACKYARD EVACUEES. Hirosuke Shimada (46) carry a jerrycan as his wife Yuka (45) and daughters Tsugumi (3), Nana (14) and Mizuki (16) sit inside a tent in front of their house to have lunch as they are concerned about aftershocks after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, amid water outages in the area during a heatwave, in Yatsushiro, Japan, July 30, 2026.
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