Gohar says meeting PTI founder key to political im…

Communities across southern Japan are facing growing hardship after a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake left at least 17 people dead, damaged essential infrastructure, and cut off water and electricity for thousands of residents. As emergency teams continue rescue and relief operations, authorities are racing to address the worsening impact of intense summer temperatures on affected communities. The earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction in Yatsushiro, a port city where cracked roads, collapsed buildings, and broken water pipelines have made daily life increasingly difficult. While damaged homes and public buildings are visible reminders of the disaster, local officials say the lack of clean water and electricity has become one of the biggest challenges facing residents. Akio Matsushita, a city official involved in coordinating relief efforts, said restoring the damaged water system could take a long time because of the scale of the destruction. He explained that repair crews are still assessing the underground damage and cannot estimate when normal services will resume. With temperatures reaching around 35 degrees Celsius and humidity remaining high, the shortage of water has become especially dangerous. Even city hall has been affected, forcing officials to install temporary toilets above sewer manholes after indoor facilities stopped working. Authorities have confirmed that at least 17 people lost their lives in the earthquake. Most of the deaths occurred at a paper manufacturing plant operated by Nippon Paper Industries, where severe structural damage trapped workers. Others were reported at an Aeon shopping mall after what officials believe may have been a gas explosion. Six more people remain in cardiopulmonary arrest, while authorities continue investigating additional deaths that may also be linked to the earthquake. Including those cases, the overall death toll could rise to 28. Emergency responders are also preparing for another serious threat as weather forecasts predict temperatures could approach 40 degrees Celsius over the coming days. Officials have warned that people staying in evacuation centres face an increased risk of heat related illnesses. To reduce that danger, Japan’s Self Defense Forces have begun installing around 300 air conditioning units at evacuation shelters and other important relief locations throughout Kumamoto Prefecture. In the hours after the earthquake, military vehicles transported large water tanks to schools and community centres across Yatsushiro. Emergency water stored beneath city hall has been used to refill the tanks, allowing residents to collect drinking water. However, supplies remain limited, with each person allowed only three litres. Among those waiting for water was Masahiro Miyamoto, who spent hours clearing debris after a temple gate collapsed during the quake. Although his own home remained standing, the neighbouring house was destroyed. Without running water, he has depended entirely on military water deliveries. He said the few stores that reopened after the disaster were crowded with shoppers trying to buy food and other essentials, while long lines formed outside petrol stations as people rushed to fill their vehicles. Japan’s location along the Pacific Ring of Fire makes earthquakes a frequent occurrence. The country has invested heavily in earthquake resistant construction and emergency preparedness, helping reduce casualties during many disasters. Even so, powerful earthquakes continue to cause severe disruption, especially in regions with major industrial facilities. The latest earthquake has also affected manufacturing across Kyushu, an important centre for Japan’s automobile and semiconductor industries. Several leading companies, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Aisin, and Sony, temporarily suspended parts of their production while inspections were carried out. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company also evacuated workers and briefly stopped operations to ensure facilities remained safe. Many residents of Kumamoto still remember the devastating earthquakes that struck the region in 2016, killing more than 260 people and destroying thousands of homes. Even those who survived that disaster said this week’s shaking felt stronger in parts of Yatsushiro. Miyamoto recalled shelves crashing to the floor and computers being thrown across rooms. He said the violent movement was unlike anything he had experienced before, describing the sensation as if he had been lifted off the ground and tossed through the air.

A devastating missile strike on a primary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab has claimed the lives of 156 people, including 120 children, making it one of the deadliest civilian incidents of the recent conflict involving Iran. The attack took place on February 28 during the opening hours of the military confrontation. The school was operating normally when explosions struck the area, causing large sections of the building to collapse and trapping students and teachers beneath the rubble. According to survivors, children had gathered inside the school for morning prayers because it was the holy month of Ramadan. Shortly after classes began, school authorities decided to dismiss students as reports of nearby explosions emerged. Before many children could leave the premises, another powerful strike directly hit the school building. Teachers who survived the attack described scenes of panic and destruction. They said the explosion threw students and staff across classrooms while thick smoke quickly filled the building, making it difficult to breathe or see. Parts of the school collapsed within seconds, leaving many children trapped. Emergency rescue teams rushed to the scene soon after the explosions. Rescue workers spent hours searching through damaged classrooms and collapsed concrete in an attempt to find survivors. However, many victims had already lost their lives before rescuers arrived. Officials involved in the rescue operation said the destruction was so severe that several victims could only be identified through clothing, shoes, or personal belongings. Families gathered outside the school in desperate search of their children as rescue efforts continued. The tragedy has left the entire community in mourning. Parents and relatives continue visiting the cemetery where many of the students and teachers have been buried. Families say they are still struggling to cope with the loss of children who had simply gone to school for their education. The school was located next to a compound associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Satellite images and independent analysis indicate that military facilities in the neighbouring compound were also struck during the attack. Reports citing officials familiar with the investigation suggest the strike may have resulted from outdated intelligence that mistakenly identified the school area as part of a military target. However, no official conclusion has been released, and investigations into the incident are still ongoing. Iranian authorities insist the school had been operating as a civilian educational institution for years and reject suggestions that it was part of any military facility. They have repeatedly highlighted the attack as evidence of the heavy civilian toll caused by the conflict. The incident has intensified international concern over civilian protection during military operations. Human rights advocates and legal experts have called for a transparent and independent investigation to determine responsibility and examine whether international humanitarian law was violated. The strike has also renewed global debate over the accuracy of military intelligence, the protection of schools in conflict zones, and the need to safeguard civilians during armed confrontations.