Many Japanese died after the earthquake due to lack of basic living conditions

At least 11 people have died after being forced to live in shelters lacking basic living conditions following the earthquake in Japan.

A family that survived the earthquake had to use their car as a temporary shelter. Photo: Reuters

Many Japanese people are experiencing health complications while they wait for the government to build temporary housing, Reuters reported today.About 120,000 Japanese are living in shelters set up after the 7.3 magnitude earthquake on April 16, but these places lack basic living conditions such as electricity and clean water. The number of people falling ill is rising.

"Eleven people have died from lack of food, and 20 others are in similar dire straits. Sleeping in a car slows down blood circulation, causing it to pool in the veins of the legs, then rush to the lungs, causing blood clots, difficulty breathing, and even death," said Dr. Hiromichi Matsuda, of the Japanese Red Cross Society.

At the shelter set up in a building in Mashiki town, there are up to 1,200 people while only 20 staff members serve. Therefore, cleaning toilets and waste disposal are not guaranteed.

"There is electricity but no water. There is no water in the building either. Many people still dare not go back to their homes because they are afraid of being unsafe after the strong earthquake," said Lee Yamane, a staff member at the shelter. Those who survived the earthquake will have to stay in the shelter for at least two more months, according to his experience.Yamane.

Two powerful earthquakes in Japan last weekend killed at least 44 people, injured more than 1,000, and forced hundreds of thousands to live in tents, cars, and temporary shelters. This is considered the worst disaster to hit Japan since the 2011 Fukushima earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster.

There are more than 1,600 Vietnamese people living, working and studying in Kumamoto Prefecture, which was heavily affected by the earthquake on April 16. The Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka sent officials with food and drinks to Kumamoto to directly assess the situation and encourage the Vietnamese community.

According to VNE