A Message from the Director, DPRI and Disaster Survey Report on the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake

  • Disaster Reports

We express our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the 7.1 magnitude 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake on 28 July 2026. Our thoughts and prayers are with the individuals and families who continue to await the swift rescue of their missing relatives.

We also offer our heartfelt sympathies to everyone affected by this disaster. We are deeply moved by the resilience of the local communities facing power outages, structural damage, and ongoing disruptions.

As emergency personnel and local volunteers work tirelessly on the ground, we stand in solidarity with the people of Kumamoto and the wider Kyushu region. We hope for a swift recovery, the immediate safety of all residents, and a rapid rebuilding of the affected areas.

Since its establishment in 1951, the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) at Kyoto University has been dedicated to comprehensive research and education aimed at pursuing the scientific principles of disasters—spanning fields from natural sciences to the humanities and social sciences—and establishing the discipline of disaster prevention science. While this earthquake has caused various forms of damage to buildings and infrastructure, DPRI researchers specializing in fields such as seismology, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, and disaster recovery are collaborating with local authorities and we are mobilizing all our resources in this endeavour. We are committed to contributing to a scientific understanding of the disaster through on-site surveys and other means, as well as assisting in the formulation of regional recovery plans based on that scientific understanding.

We have released an initial report containing data such as the characteristics of the ground motion. We plan to publish further survey results as they become available.

Ryosuke Uzuoka, Director, Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University

Disaster survey reports will be posted periodically at the following link: