Kumamoto warns of car-sleeping risks after earthquake

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On August 2, Kumamoto Prefecture confirmed the death of a woman in her 70s who had been sleeping in her car after evacuating due to an earthquake. The cause of death is suspected to be heatstroke.

About 9,450 people have been displaced by the Kumamoto earthquake. JAF's test showed that with the AC off, a car parked in the sun reaches 53°C inside after 90 minutes, and 39.4°C after just 10 minutes. Experts warn of heatstroke risk, especially for rear-seat passengers.

A 70-year-old woman in Japan died of suspected heatstroke after evacuating to her car following an earthquake. Temperatures in the area exceeded 38°C, and the inside of the vehicle was even hotter. The woman had been staying in the car for several days, afraid to return to her damaged home. Authorities urge evacuees to use designated shelters with air conditioning.

GRANDMOTOR has introduced the D Camper Kit for the Mitsubishi Delica D:5, converting it into a camper. The kit includes a pop-up roof with a sleeping area of 193×102 cm and about 94 cm of headroom, plus a fold-out bed measuring 137×214 cm. Installation is available for both new and existing vehicles.

Nissan presented the updated NV200 Vanette MyRoom camper at the Tokyo Camper Show 2026. The model features a Japanese-style interior with wooden panels, a convertible second-row seat, and a portable battery based on Nissan Leaf technology. Standard equipment now includes lane departure warning and power-folding mirrors.