Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34

Searchers continued to work in the Kumamoto area, including at the site of the collapsed mall, where some of the most serious damage was recorded.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3968x2730+0+0/resize/3968x2730!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2F66%2Fc10aad894b2fa11d6dda8a43008d%2Fap26212095317793.jpg' alt='Heavy machinery removes debris at AEON Mall, which was damaged by an explosion following an earthquake, in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, southern Japan, Friday, July 31, 2026.'/><p>Searchers continued to work in the Kumamoto area, including at the site of the collapsed mall, where some of the most serious damage was recorded.</p><p>(Image credit: Kyodo News)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-136503' />