Death Toll From Kumamoto Earthquake Rises to 34 as Survivors Shelter in Cars

The death toll from the earthquake that struck southwestern Japan has risen to 34, with six more people seriously injured, Al Jazeera reported. Al Jazeera put the magnitude at 7.1, while earlier accounts had reported it at 6.8, a discrepancy common in the first days after a major quake as monitoring agencies refine their measurements.

In the affected areas around Kumamoto, residents whose homes were destroyed have been sleeping in their cars for shelter, Al Jazeera reported. The loss of housing has left families without a safe place to return to as aftershocks continue.

Japan's response has drawn in institutions beyond the government. The country's sporting organizations, including leagues, clubs and individual players, have mobilized to support the relief effort, The Japan Times reported, contributing to relief funds and encouraging donations.

Japan is among the world's most earthquake-prepared nations, and even here a strong quake has killed dozens and displaced families. The event is a reminder that geological shocks impose human and economic costs that no amount of preparation fully eliminates.