Tens of thousands of households in Southern Japan still without water after earthquake

Nearly 26,500 households in Japan"s Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu remain without water following a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck on July 28.

According to local authorities, cited by Report, water is being delivered to affected areas by tanker trucks, most of which are operated by members of the Japanese military. Temporary toilets and shower facilities have also been set up.

About 3,200 people are currently staying at 79 evacuation centers, more than four times fewer than the figure recorded at the end of July.

Official data show that the earthquake damaged nearly 31,500 buildings and other structures, with about 1,300 completely destroyed. Debris removal and cleanup operations are continuing in the affected areas, although extreme heat is hampering the work.

The disaster has killed 39 people in the prefecture, while another 26 sustained serious injuries.