The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture has risen to 30 as rescue teams continue searching for survivors amid difficult conditions. The magnitude 6.8 earthquake caused widespread destruction, collapsing homes, damaging infrastructure, and triggering a shopping centre collapse and subsequent explosion that claimed several lives. More than 100 aftershocks have followed, forcing many residents to sleep in cars or evacuation centres because of fears of further tremors. Around 9,000 people remain displaced, while tens of thousands of households are without electricity. Rescue workers face the additional challenge of extreme temperatures forecast to reach 39°C, increasing the risk of heatstroke for both survivors and emergency personnel. The Japanese government has delivered air-conditioning units to evacuation centres and deployed thousands of rescue workers to search damaged buildings. Communities across the region continue to mourn those who have died while hoping more survivors may yet be found beneath the rubble.