Tokyo Agricultural University urges Kumamoto quake volunteers to wait

A magnitude‑7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on 28 July 2026, causing severe damage and ongoing risks such as aftershocks, heatstroke, and obstructed rescue routes. On 29 July, Tokyo Agricultural University posted a statement from President Fumiyo Eguchi advising its students that volunteer work in the disaster area should be postponed until safety conditions improve, citing the priority of official rescue teams and hazards from traffic congestion and secondary injuries.

Kumamoto’s prefectural social‑welfare councils are scrambling to set up a disaster volunteer centre, but the system is not yet operational. Governor Keiji Kimura asked volunteers to hold off until reception procedures are ready. Only Masaki Town is expected to begin accepting volunteers from 1 August, while other areas continue to face power outages and logistical challenges. The prefecture is also coordinating material aid, limiting supplies to those from local businesses and using an Amazon wishlist to collect needed items.