Death Toll from Southwestern Japan Quake Climbs to 34 as Rescuers Search Damaged Mall The death toll from last week's powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan has risen to 34, with rescuers still searching for survivors amidst the rubble of a damaged mall and flattened homes.
The disaster struck an area already struggling with economic decline. Kyushu's economy, once driven by coal mining and manufacturing, has been in a slow descent for years.
The region's reliance on traditional industries has left it vulnerable to global market fluctuations, making its resilience to natural disasters precarious.