Schools in southern Japan resume classes post-quakes

Schools in southern Japan's Kumamoto prefecture resumed classes on Monday, almost a month after being hit by a series of powerful earthquakes.

A total of 62 primary and secondary schools in six towns, including Mashiki and Minamiaso, epicentre of the two most powerful quakes that shook the region, opened on Monday and 111 others were set to follow suit later this week, EFE news reported.

Around 1,000 people, who were evacuated to shelters in four schools in Mashiki, will be shifted to gymnasiums and other facilities within the schools to allow students to use the classrooms.

Over 400 of the 614 schools in Kumamoto were closed due to the quakes as many of them suffered structural damage and were left without water and electricity in the quakes.

On April 14, Kumamoto witnessed a violent 6.5 magnitude earthquake, which triggered a series of tremors, including one of 7.3 magnitude that struck two days later and caused even greater destruction, also affecting the neighbouring city of Oita.

The quakes claimed 50 lives besides leaving around 12,000 buildings at risk of collapse, and damaged basic infrastructure.

--IANS

ksk/dg