28 Dead in Kumamoto Earthquake... 10,000 Evacuate Amid Sweltering Heat

7.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto, Japan
Multiple Deaths at Factories and Major Shopping Centers
"Limited Impact" at TSMC's Japan Plant

More than 40 hours have passed since the magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, on the 28th, and the number of earthquake-related deaths has risen to 28 as of July 30, 2026. With summer heat persisting, it is reported that around 10,000 residents of earthquake-stricken Kumamoto Prefecture have sought refuge at evacuation centers.

Government Announces Estimated Death Toll on the Morning of the 30th

On the afternoon of the 28th, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck western Kumamoto in Kyushu, Japan, causing part of a large shopping mall to collapse. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

At a press conference on July 30, Minoru Kihara, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, stated that as of 6:30 a.m. that morning, 28 people had died in connection with the earthquake. This number includes cases for which links to the earthquake are still under investigation.

This represents a significant increase from the previous tally from Kumamoto Prefecture, which had reported 17 deaths. According to the prefectural authorities, eight deaths occurred at the Nippon Paper Industries Yatsushiro plant, and five deaths were confirmed at the AEON Mall Kumamoto shopping center, where an explosion took place. In Yatsushiro City, three people lost their lives, and one in Kosamachi, while six individuals were in cardiopulmonary arrest.

Regarding the discrepancies in death tolls, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara explained that "the central government quickly releases the number of deaths identified by police and fire authorities, while the prefecture aggregates information reported by municipal governments, which leads to differences." He also stated, "As we reach the 40-hour mark since the earthquake, rescuing survivors is becoming a race against time, and we will do everything we can."

75,000 Households Suffer Water Disruptions... Air Conditioning Unavailable

A signboard of a shop in Kumamoto has fallen due to a strong earthquake. Yonhap News

The damage to residents caused by the earthquake continues. As of the morning of July 30, about 10,000 people were still taking shelter at around 400 evacuation centers across Kumamoto Prefecture. In locations such as Uki City, 75,000 households remain without running water. In addition, 23,000 households are reported to be without electricity, making it difficult to operate air conditioners and refrigerators amid the sweltering heat.

The extent of economic damage is still being assessed. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara commented, "As Kyushu is home to important infrastructure such as ports, as well as major semiconductor, electronic component, and automotive-related companies, we are checking the situation for damage." He added that partial emergency restoration has been completed at key ports such as Yatsushiro Port and Kumamoto Port, enabling Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels to provide water supply and transport relief supplies.

However, the damage at the Kumamoto Prefecture facility of the global semiconductor foundry TSMC appears to be minor. On this day, United Daily News (UDN) of Taiwan cited DigiTimes, reporting that the impact of the earthquake is not expected to significantly affect TSMC’s third-quarter revenue. The report also stated, "Since the Kumamoto JASM plant is still in the ramp-up phase to expand production capacity, the impact of the earthquake is not expected to be significant."

TSMC temporarily halted factory operations immediately after the quake. However, the company confirmed there were no casualties or structural abnormalities in buildings, and that power, water, and safety systems were operating normally. Currently, equipment inspection and calibration are underway, with support from the headquarters in Taiwan. That said, DigiTimes pointed out that semiconductor equipment is extremely sensitive to vibrations, making wafer disposal or process deviations possible, and that processes must be thoroughly checked before production resumes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.