Kumamoto - Nine days after the Kumamoto earthquake, a supermarket in Hikawa, where the strongest seismic intensity of 7 was recorded, is moving toward reopening while providing free groundwater to residents as about 3,200 households remain without running water. Temperatures were forecast to approach extreme levels on August 5, including 39 degrees Celsius in Kumamoto City, prompting calls for strict precautions against heatstroke. More than a week after the earthquake, employees at the supermarket were still occupied with cleanup work. Electricity was restored on August 4 for the first time in a week, allowing the store to resume using air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. The supermarket has been pumping groundwater to cope with the heat and is providing it free of charge to local residents.