Japan earthquake aftermath: Woman dies of heat stroke in parked car; toll rises to 36
An elderly woman died of heat stroke in her car following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture. Authorities are struggling to manage the aftermath as thousands remain displaced and face extreme temperatures without adequate fuel or resources.
Why it matters
Highlights the secondary humanitarian crisis that often follows natural disasters, specifically the risks of heat-related illness for displaced populations.
An elderly woman apparently died of heat stroke while sheltering in her car, after the massive earthquake that killed over 30, as authorities warned of growing heat-related risks for evacuees amid sweltering temperatures.The woman, believed to be in her 70s, was found dead in a car on Thursday. NHK reported the vehicle had run out of fuel, preventing the use of air conditioning. Officials said the death was linked to the extreme heat that has gripped the quake-hit region."It's heartbreaking," Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura said, urging evacuees staying in vehicles to keep enough fuel to run air conditioning or move to air-conditioned evacuation centres.The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday, killing at least 36 people and injuring 105 others.
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