Kumamoto prefecture authorities raised the death toll to 34 on Thursday following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck southwestern Japan last Tuesday, as rescue operations for possible survivors continue amid power cuts, water shortages, and forecasts of high temperatures. RELATED: Update: Japan Quake Injures Dozens, Traps People in Collapsed MallCentral government spokesman Minoru Kihara, however, maintained the death toll at 30 during a virtually simultaneous press conference, relying on Police-provided information. More than 48 hours after the tremor, search and rescue efforts continue, with the Ministry of Defence reporting that canine search operations commenced overnight. Around 10,000 people remain evacuated across some 400 shelters, where local authorities and the Self-Defence Forces are installing air conditioning units. Hundreds of aftershocks have followed, including a magnitude 5.8 tremor on Wednesday night, and authorities have warned that a larger earthquake could occur in the coming days.