A woman in her 70s died of suspected heatstroke after sleeping in her car following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. She was found dead in her vehicle on July 30, with reports indicating her car had run out of petrol [1, 2, 3, 4].
The death toll from the Kumamoto earthquake now stands between 36 and 38, including the woman. Authorities continue to investigate two other fatalities to determine if they are quake-related [1, 2, 3, 5, 4]. The official count includes 9 victims in a chimney collapse at a paper factory and 7 recovered from a collapsed mall caused by a gas explosion triggered by the quake [4].
More than 9,000 people remain in evacuation shelters or temporary accommodations in early August, with many opting to sleep in vehicles for privacy or to escape the extreme heat amid temperatures reaching 36.6°C [1, 2, 5, 4]. Governor Takashi Kimura called the woman’s death "heartbreaking" and urged evacuees to keep enough fuel for air conditioning or move to cooler shelters [4]. Officials are distributing leaflets advising those sheltering in cars to stay hydrated, seek cooler places, and exercise to prevent blood clots [3, 4].
Power has largely been restored, but fuel shortages have led to long queues at petrol stations amid ongoing recovery efforts in the region [5, 4]. About 3,851 homes were damaged by the quake in Kumamoto Prefecture [5]. Twelve people remain in serious condition as of August 1 [1, 2].
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said, "The government is determined to do everything we can," as relief supplies including water, food, toilets, and air conditioners are rushed to evacuation centers [4]. Thousands of Self Defense Forces, police, rescue workers, and sniffer dogs continue search and recovery operations [4].
