Death toll from southwestern Japan quake climbs to 34 as rescuers search damaged mall

KUMAMOTO, Japan -- The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan rose to 34, the Kumamoto prefectural government said Friday, as rescuers raced in last-ditch efforts to find survivors after the quake triggered a mall explosion, toppled a factory chimney, and flattened homes across the region. The disaster left thousands of households without electricity and tens of thousands without tap water. Thousands of residents remained in shelters or their vehicles, leaving medical workers concerned about heat-related illnesses as the region endured punishing summer temperatures. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday. As search operations entered a fourth day, it wasn't known how many people remained missing and the scale of the damage to homes across the region was still unclear.Officials said 34 quake-related deaths had been confirmed, with one more death still under investigation. Dozens of people were injured.More than 79,000 homes were without water and over 2,700 without electricity as of Friday afternoon. Authorities said more than 9,000 people were staying in shelters, where power sources were being added to provide air co...