Tzu Chi Provides Aid to Earthquake-Stricken Kumamoto Prefecture – Japan – USFTB

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28, 2026, killing 38 people and injuring at least 368. The quake left 59,000 households without water and damaged more than 4,000 homes. Volunteers from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation arrived on August 2 with beds, shelter partitions, and other supplies. They worked with local disaster relief groups to assess needs and distribute aid. The foundation also sent two of its electric‑free water purifiers to provide clean drinking water. By August 3, the first shipment reached Yatsushiro City, where it was unloaded and prepared for distribution. Tzu Chi continues to monitor the situation and stands ready to offer further assistance.