Prime minister visits quake-hit southern Japan as cleanup begins in intense heat

TOKYO (AP) — Residents in Japan's quake-hit southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto put out heaps of debris for collection as the region baked under intense heat.

The heat and a lack of water supplies have added to the challenges in the severely damaged areas where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi briefly visited for the first time since a magnitude 7.1 quake hit Kumamoto Prefecture on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday.

Thirty-eight people died during the quake, including one who died of apparent heat stroke while taking shelter in a car in hot weather and one other whose cause of death is still being investigated, prefectural officials said Monday.

Residents put out heaps of debris, broken furniture and damaged appliances for collection, while in the towns of Uki and Hikawa, construction of temporary housing began. Some hotels and inns are offering their rooms for evacuees.

More than 46,000 households remained without water and many also faced fuel shortages as the region suffers sweltering heat, stoking fears of heat-related illness. Japan Meteorological Agency predicted that temperatures would rise close to 40 C (104 F) Monday.

More than 8,500 people remain at crowded emergency shelters, such as converted community centers, school gyms and classrooms, many of which lack air-conditioning. Others are sleeping in cars at town hall parking lots and parks, or outside of their homes.

Experts have long warned that inadequate shelter provision leads to crowded conditions and a lack of sanitation and privacy for people forced to leave their homes following disasters.

Takaichi on Monday flew over the affected areas from an army helicopter and visited one of the area's best-equipped shelters, with cardboard beds, partitions and air-conditioning, triggering criticisms on social media that her visit distorted reality.

Kumamoto Gov. Takashi Kimura, in his meeting with Takaichi, stressed the “abnormal heat" has been pounding on the already difficult lives of the residents. He sought further government support to improve the living conditions at evacuation centers, saying many of them lack clean water and medical care.

“While taking into consideration the governor's requests, we will quickly examine what the government can do for the disaster-hit region and affected people and move proactively,” Takaichi said.

Meanwhile, a company that owned a general store in a collapsed shopping mall acknowledged that it had instructed two employees who were killed in a later explosion to return to the building to put sales proceeds into a safe.

Two executives of Habita, a local general store operator that had a shop inside the collapsed Aeon Mall in the town of Kashima, attended the wake Sunday of one of the two victims, 22-year-old Kurumi Otake, and apologized to her parents for the death.

Company sales manager Goji Yuse acknowledged that the company instructed the two to put sales proceeds into the safe if it was possible.

“I wish someone had stopped her,” Otake's tearful mother told them. “My daughter is not coming back.”

The mall's operator said it believes the explosion was due to a gas leak and occurred after about 3,000 shoppers had been evacuated to a parking lot following the quake, but some employees remained inside. Rescuers recovered five people and the bodies of seven others from the mall.

The earthquake has left 114 people injured across Kumamoto, authorities said.

Some 700 homes were destroyed, and more than 11,300 buildings were damaged, according to Kumamoto prefecture.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visits an evacuation center in Hikawa, southern Japan, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets evacuees as she visits an evacuation center in Hikawa, southern Japan, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (Japan Pool/Kyodo News via AP)

People rest at an evacuation center in Uki, southern Japan, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, after recent earthquakes. (Yuta Omori/Kyodo News via AP)

A person rides a bicycle past damaged buildings in Hikawa, southern Japan, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, following a July 28 earthquake. (Taichi Nagahisa/Kyodo News via AP)

RAVENSBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 28, 2026--

Vetter, a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), continues to expand its commercial fill-and-finish network to further strengthen its global manufacturing operations and support the evolving needs of pharma and biotech customers. The company’s long-term investment program includes the addition of ten more commercial filling lines.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260928446750/en/

Seven of the ten planned manufacturing lines are being implemented across Vetter’s existing sites. This phased rollout will make additional manufacturing resources available over the coming years. The first new line, designed to fill pre-sterilized syringes, recently became operational, and a second line is expected to follow by the end of 2026. Another five lines for aseptic production are planned through 2028. Looking ahead, the final three lines are planned for Vetter’s new commercial site in Saarlouis, Germany, which is expected to become operational by 2031.

“Pharma and biotech companies seek partners with a proven track record, operational expertise, and the capabilities to support their current and future drug products,” states Managing Director Henryk Badack. “This demand is reflected in our strategy for sustainable growth. Through our ongoing investments, we are expanding our global manufacturing resources and strengthening our ability to support customers throughout the lifecycle of their products in international markets.”

Continued investment in Vetter’s broader operational infrastructure accompanies the expansion of its manufacturing capacity. Current initiatives include expanding compounding, pharmaceutical storage, and visual inspection capabilities, as well as implementing advanced cleanroom technology and increased automation and digitalization.

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Vetter will be exhibiting at CPHI Milan from October 6 to 8, 2026, at booth 6A52, where company representatives will engage with customers and industry stakeholders to discuss current and future project requirements.

Find the Vetter press kit and more background information here.

About Vetter

Vetter is a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with headquarters in Ravensburg, Germany, and production facilities in Germany, Austria, and the US. As a global player, the independent pharmaceutical service provider is also present in the Asia-Pacific markets of Japan, China, South Korea, and Singapore with sales locations. Around the world renowned pharma and biotech companies benefit from decades of experience, high quality, modern technologies, reliability, and commitment of its 7,400 employees. In close collaboration with its customers, the Vetter team helps enable the supply to patients all over the world with medicines, many of which are vital. The CDMO provides support from drug product development through clinical and commercial filling to a wide range of assembly and packaging services for vials, syringes, and cartridges. With innovative approaches, Vetter develops prefilled drug-delivery systems together with its customers to continuously improve patient safety, comfort, and compliance. Vetter takes responsibility for sustainable practices and operates as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. The CDMO is a member of the UN Global Compact and Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) and received platinum status in the renowned EcoVadis ranking. Multiple awards such as the CDMO Leadership Awards, Frost & Sullivan Customer Value Leadership Award and the recognition of Best Managed Company emphasize Vetter’s commitment to sustainable business. Founded in Ravensburg in 1950, the company remains family-owned to this day. For more information, visit www.vetter-pharma.com and follow Vetter on LinkedIn.

© Vetter Pharma International GmbH: The latest filling line at Vetter’s commercial facility in Langenargen, Germany