The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan earlier this week has climbed to 34, authorities said Friday, as emergency crews continue rescue and recovery operations across Kumamoto Prefecture.

The Kumamoto prefectural government confirmed the updated toll, adding that six more people have sustained serious injuries.

The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on Tuesday near the city of Uki, causing widespread destruction across the region. The quake cut electricity to approximately 40,000 homes, suspended rail services and prompted tsunami warnings for parts of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island.

Officials said nearly half of the fatalities were linked to two major incidents triggered by the earthquake: structural damage at a Nippon Paper Industries mill and a suspected gas explosion at an Aeon shopping center.

Emergency responders continue to assess damaged buildings while search teams work in affected communities.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged residents to remain alert for powerful aftershocks, warning that additional seismic activity could pose further risks in already damaged areas.

Relief operations have also been complicated by ongoing summer heat and water shortages affecting communities across the disaster zone.

Authorities are working to restore essential services while providing emergency shelter and supplies to displaced residents.

Japan sits along the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is among the world’s most earthquake-prone nations.

The latest disaster has drawn comparisons to the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes a decade ago, which claimed 275 lives and caused extensive damage across the region.