Japanese officials confirmed on Wednesday that 13 people had died following the quake, while authorities continued to verify whether all the fatalities were directly linked to the tremor. "Extensive damage has been confirmed, including casualties, collapsed buildings, fires and damage to roads," an official said during a press briefing. The earthquake left extensive damage across Kumamoto Prefecture, with around 36,880 homes and other facilities still without power on Wednesday morning. The quake sparked multiple fires, damaged roads and bridges, and caused part of a pedestrian bridge to collapse into a river. The Japanese Self-Defence Forces have deployed around 3,600 personnel and 20 aircraft to assist with search, rescue and damage assessment operations.