The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan earlier this week rises to 34, the Kumamoto prefecture government says. In a statement reported on Friday, the prefecture confirms the number of fatalities has increased from 25 previously. The reports describe the quake as earlier this week and note that emergency response efforts continue in Kumamoto, where authorities are assessing damage and searching for additional victims. The Reuters report and other accounts attribute the updated figure to the prefectural government’s latest information. While the sources agree on the toll reaching 34 and the prior count being 25, they do not provide additional details such as the number of injured, the extent of destruction, or the status of aftershocks. Overall, the available coverage focuses on the updated fatality count released by Kumamoto authorities, reflecting continued updates as rescue and recovery operations proceed.